Maternal serum interleukin-6 level in preterm labor.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to measure interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in maternal serum of women undergoing preterm labor without a clear infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty two pregnant women with diagnosis of preterm labor who presented to the outpatient clinic of 19 Mayis University Faculty of Medicine from July 2011 through December 2011 were enrolled in the study group. Twenty two healthy pregnant women who were at the same gestational age as the study group were selected as the control group. RESULTS Gestational age in the study and control groups varied from 24 weeks and 4 days to 34 weeks and 6 days. In the study group, 11 patients (50%) underwent preterm birth. Pregnant women in preterm labor were compared to healthy pregnant women with regards to serum IL-6 levels. No significant difference was found in the IL-6 levels of maternal serum between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION In this study we have shown that there is no increase in lL-6 levels in patients undergoing preterm labor without clinical or biochemical infection signs.