Amniotic fluid interleukin 6 levels in preterm premature rupture of membranes

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determinate the changes of amniotic fluid interleukin 6 (IL-6) concentrations in patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM), and in the presence of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) and histological chorioamnionitis (HCA). The aim was to examine amniotic fluid IL-6 in relation to MIAC and HCA. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical Faculty Charles University Hradec Kralove. METHODS: We studied 37 women between 24 and 36 weeks of gestation with PPROM. Samples of amniotic fluid were collected by transabdominal amniocentesis. Polymerase chain reaction for the genital mycoplasmas and culture for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were performed. Twenty-eight of 37 patients placentas were collected and assessed for presence or absence HCA. IL-6 concentration in amniotic fluid were determined using a sensitive and specific diagnostic kit Human IL-6 Quantikine ELISA manufactured RD p=0.047). There was no significant difference in the median amniotic fluid IL-6 concentration between patients with preterm rupture of the membranes with and without MIAC (patients with MIAC: median 915 pg/ml, range 195-1854 pg/ml vs. patients without MIAC: median 792 pg/ml, range 184-1993 pg/ml; p=0.53). There was no significant difference in the median amniotic fluid IL-6 concentration between patients with preterm rupture of the membranes with and without HCA (patients with HCA: median 829 pg/ml, range 195-1992 pg/ml vs. patients without HCA: median 768 pg/ml, range 184-1890 pg/ml; p = 0.31). CONCLUSION: Amniotic fluid IL-6 concentrations patients with PPROM with presence HCA and MIAC were significantly higher than IL-6 concentration patients without HCA and MIAC.