The relationship between the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and AFI value in pregnancies complicated by premature rupture of membranes

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to test the relationship between maternal serum proinflammatory cytokines level and AFI (amniotic fluid index) in pregnancies complicated by premature rupture of membranes (PROM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The maternal serum levels of IL-6, IL-1 beta and TNF-alfa were assessed in patients with PROM between 24-34 weeks of gestation (n = 45) by means of commercially available ELISA assays. The patients were divided in two groups according to AFI values: < 50 (n = 25) mm and < or = 50 mm (n = 20). Cytokine concentrations were compared between groups. RESULTS: The median concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines in maternal serum were: IL-6--5.74 pg/ml (range 3.24-3111 pg/ml), IL-1 beta--0.76 pg/ml (range 0.001-3.16 pg/ml), TNF-alfa--1332.46 pg/ml (range 2.13-1969.68 pg/ml). Compared to patients with AFI values > or = 50 mm, the group of patients with AFI < 50 mm had significantly higher concentration of IL-6 (6.61 pg/ml vs. 4.66 pg/ml; p = 0.002). No significant differences in IL-1 beta and TNF-alfa levels have been found between groups. The significant correlation have been observed between maternal serum level of IL-6 and AFI values (R = -0.47, p = 0.003), but not of IL-1 beta and TNF-alfa. CONCLUSION: The assessment of AFI values in pregnancies complicated by premature rupture of membranes seems to be the valuable method of early diagnosis in cases of intrauterine infection.