Cytokines and other important inflammatory mediators in gestation and bacterial intraamniotic infections

Intraamniotic infections caused by viruses, bacteria or mycoplasmas are fre quently followed by damage of fetus or increased perinatal morbidity and mo rtality Cytokines are key substances regulating a number of biological proc esses including reproductive and inflammatory processes An association betw een intraamniotic infections, rising concentrations of inflammatory cytokin es in amniotic fluid and preterm labor is suggested. A great effort is made to find reliable markers typical for intraamniotic infections with high pr edictive value that make possible prompt identification of patients with in traamniotic infection. This review concerns inflammatory mediators, especia lly IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, and other important biologically active su bstances as prostaglandins and NO metabolites and their roles in intraamnio tic infections. Finally, we discuss their relevance for diagnosis of intraa mniotic infections.