Levels of IL-6 and IL-1β in Umbilical Cord Blood in Relation to Mode of Birth

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to determine whether normal spontaneous vaginal delivery at term was associated with an inflammatory activation compared with scheduled cesarean section without previous onset of labor by detecting cord blood serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β).
STUDY DESIGN: Eighty-eight patients were studied (vaginal delivery n=44 and scheduled cesarean n=44) with cord venous blood sampling after delivery of the fetus. IL-6 and IL-1β levels were measured with commercial kits. All of the subjects had uncomplicated term singleton pregnancies.
RESULTS: Both study groups showed no significant difference in maternal age, gestational week, birth weight, body mass index (p>0.05). Cord blood IL-6 and IL-1β levels were similar between spontaneous vaginal delivery and scheduled cesarean groups (3.1±2.0 pg/mL versus 3.1±2.9 pg/mL, p=0.62 and 2.0±1.7 pg/mL versus 2.3±1.8 pg/mL, p=0.46, respectively). Also maternal age, gestational week, birth weight and body mass index did not correlate with cord blood cytokine levels.
CONCLUSION: In healthy and term pregnancies, the exposition of spontaneous vaginal delivery and labor is not associated with activation of inflammatory mediators compared to cesarean. The data of the present study did not support the increasing ratio of newborn complications (respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the need for prolonged oxygen therapy and neonatal intensive care unit, allergic diseases of infancy period) after cesarean delivery due to inadequate increasing levels of cytokines in newborns delivered by cesarean.