Evaluation levels of cytokines in amniotic fluid of women with intrauterine infection in the early second trimester

Amniotic fluid was obtained from 180 patients by amniocentesis at 16-22 weeks of gestation and assayed for the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, leukocyte elastase (LE), and glucose. Ten of cases had clinical symptoms, such as uterine contraction, genital bleeding, and cervical ripening, and the other 170 were assessed for fetal chromosomal features. Four of the ten cases with uterine contraction developed abortion, while 10 of those screened had findings of fetal chromosomal anomalies, and 7 cases then underwent induced abortion artificially. In the cases of abortion, levels of IL-6, IL-8 and LE were higher than in the samples from the 160 pregnant women without clinical symptoms and a normal karyotype, while glucose in amniotic fluid was lower. Of 6 cases with clinical symptoms, but not developing abortion, 4 developed preterm labor, and in these IL-6 and IL-8 also were significantly elevated, with LE being slight high compared to normal. The results suggest that IL-6, IL-8, LE, and glucose in amniotic fluid at early second trimester can be used as markers of severe infection in the uterus, and with the first two being particularly sensitive.