CONCENTRATION OF FETAL PLASMA AND AMNIOTIC-FLUID INTERLEUKIN-1 IN PREGNANCIES COMPLICATED BY PRETERM PRELABOR AMNIORRHEXIS

Aims-To determine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) concentration in feta l and maternal plasma and amniotic fluid from pregnancies complicated by preterm prelabour amniorrhexis and to define the relation of this c ytokine to intrauterine infection and the onset of labour. Methods-Cro ss-sectional study of 23 pregnancies complicated by preterm prelabour amniorrhexis. Enzyme linked immunoassay was used to measure IL-1 beta concentration in fetal and maternal plasma and amniotic fluid. In each case, fetal blood and amniotic fluid were cultured for micro-organism s. Results-In pregnancies with positive fetal blood and/or amniotic fl uid cultures, plasma and amniotic fluid concentrations of IL-1 beta we re higher and the interval between amniorrhexis and onset of labour wa s shorter than in the non-infected group. There were no significant as sociations between fetal plasma IL-1 beta and maternal plasma or amnio tic fluid IL-1 beta concentrations, fetal leucocyte count or the inter val between amniorrhexis and the onset of labour. Conclusions-These fi ndings suggest that although intrauterine infection is associated with increased IL-1 beta concentrations in fetal plasma and amniotic fluid , there is no significant association between the concentration of IL- 1 beta and the interval between amniorrhexis and the onset of labour.