Measurement of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and erythropoietin (EPO) in umbilical cords of preterm infants with intraventricular hemorrhage in two hospitals in Tehran

Background: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is an important cause of death in premature infants. This study aimed to assess the association of the umbilical cord plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and erythropoietin (EPO) with the occurrence and severity of IVH in premature infants.

Methods: Fifty premature newborns of mothers with chorioamnionitis risk factor were selected via nonprobability sampling. The concentration of the cord plasma’s IL-6 and erythropoietin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for 3 days. Finally, all samples underwent sonography for the diagnosis of IVH. Results analyzed statistically.

Results: Among the samples, 68.98% of them were diagnosed with IVH grade 1. The most severe IVH cases were detected on the second day. The mean and standard deviation of IL-6 level was 74.71?±?50.53 in the case group and 24.10?±?46.10 in the control group. There was a correlation between IL-6 levels and IVH (p?=?0.0005). The mean and standard deviation of EPO level was 18.38?±?15.23 in the IVH group and 6.45?±?13.48 in samples without IVH. A correlation was detected between EPO level and IVH (p?=?0.005).

Conclusion: The concentration of IL-6 and EPO levels of the cord plasma was higher in the premature newborns with IVH.