Maternal serum cytokines in the prediction of preterm labor and response to tocolytic therapy in preterm labor women

One of the most important challenges in health care system is prevention of preterm birth. The present study was aimed to investigate the relation between interleukins 6 and 8 (IL-6 and IL-8) with preterm labor and response to tocolytic therapy.

In the year 2012, 75 women with the symptoms of preterm labor (cases) in compare with 75 term women (controls) were randomly selected and evaluated. Baseline data and serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 (using immunoassay method) recorded. Hence, tocolysis in women in case group was performed with the use of magnesium sulfate and then they were followed until delivery time to assess the response to treatment.

In case group, 59 women response to tocolytic treatment and delivered at term but 16 of them delivered prematurely. The curve constructed cut-off value for IL-6 was >37.9 (area under the curve [AUC], 0.674; standard error [SE], 0.043; P < 0.0001), and > 9.5 for IL-8 (AUC, 0.773; SE, 0.038; P < 0.0001), indicating a significant relationship with preterm labor. Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels with the response to the treatment in cut-off >45 for IL-6 (AUC, 0.894; SE, 0.042; P < 0.0001) and >171 for IL-8 (AUC, 0.864; SE, 0.059; P < 0.0001).

In summary, our results suggest that the assessment of maternal serum concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 can be used as appropriate biomarkers for predicting preterm labor and response to tocolytic therapy in these women. However, further studies needs to be done.