CORD-BLOOD CYTOKINES AND SOLUBLE ADHESION MOLECULES IN VAGINAL AND CESAREAN DELIVERED NEONATES

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the effect of labor pains on th e concentrations of cytokines and soluble adhesion molecules in cord b lood. Methods: Umbilical cord interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL- 8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), granulocyte elastase (GEL ), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and endothelial lymphoc yte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1) were measured in 21 normal appropriat ely grown newborns delivered vaginally (VD group), and 20 normal appro priately grown newborns delivered by elective cesarean section (ECS gr oup). Umbilical cord arterial blood pH and PO2 were also measured. Res ults: Umbilical artery blood pH and PO2 in the VD group were not signi ficantly different from those in the ECS group. There were no signific ant differences for concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, GEL, ICAM -1, and ELAM-1 in cord blood between VD and ECS groups. Conclusion: Th ese results suggest that labor pains do not affect the concentrations of cytokines and soluble adhesion molecules in cord blood.