Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2005 Dec;48(12):2828-2834.

A Study of correlation of fetal and maternal serum interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6 with histologic placental inflammation

• Choi WS
• Kim SW
• Choi SH
• Lee SK
• Kim MJ
• Kim TY
• Baik KD

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was to determine if placental histologic acute inflammation is related to maternal and fetal serum cytokine levels in preterm labor.
METHODS
In 2003-2004, 32 consecutive patients at 20-36 weeks with progressive labor and tocolytic failure were recruited. Maternal serum sampled during the labor, and fetal serum of umbilical vein were assayed by ELISA for levels of soluble interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6. Acute placental inflammation was scored by two groups blinded to clinical data, and the average scores analyzed for relationships to serum cytokine levels.
RESULTS
Fetal level of interleukin-1beta was higher with grade 3-4 acute amnionitis than with grade 0-2 (p=0.022 and p=0.023). Fetal levels of both cytokine were higher in grade 3-4 umbilical vasculitis (interleukin-1beta p=0.008 and interleukin-6 p=0.03). In contrast, maternal serum interleukin levels were not associated with presence or severity of histologic evidence of acute placental inflammation.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that fetal serum, but not maternal serum interleukin levels, was correlated with histologic evidence of acute placental inflammation. This result may be used to detect acute placental inflammation as an indirect indicator.

Keyword

Interleukin; Placental inflammation; Chorioamnionitis

MeSH Terms

Amnion
Chorioamnionitis
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Humans
Inflammation*
Interleukin-1beta*
Interleukin-6*
Interleukins
Obstetric Labor, Premature
Pregnancy
Umbilical Veins
Vasculitis
Interleukin-1beta
Interleukin-6
Interleukins