LABOR AFFECTS CYTOKINE PRODUCTION IN NEWBORNS

PROBLEM: To investigate whether the mode of delivery or the drugs give n to the mother during labor may affect the newborns' immune system. M ETHOD OF STUDY: Three groups of term newborns were included: A, sponta neously delivered with i.v. analgesia (n = 37); B, spontaneously deliv ered with epidural analgesia (n = 26); and C, delivered by cesarean se ction under general anesthesia (n = 29). Natural killer (NK) cell cyto toxicity, mitogenic response, and the capacity of peripheral blood mon onuclear cells (PBMCs) to produce interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were examined. RESULTS: N K cell cytotoxicity increased significantly in all three groups of new borns on the second day of life. Decreased IL-2 production was observe d in newborns delivered by cesarean section. Spontaneous IL-1 beta sec retion was higher in newborns to mothers treated with epidural analges ia. Spontaneous IL-6 secretion was elevated in infants to mothers unde rgoing general anesthesia and surgery or epidural analgesia. TNF-alpha production was increased in newborns delivered by cesarean section. C ONCLUSION: The immune response of the newborn is affected by the mode of delivery and/or drugs given to the mother during labor.