Accuracy of Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-10 in Predictionof Preterm Birth

Abstract

Preterm birth is defined as the onset of labor after the gestation of viability (20–28 weeks) and before 37 completed weeks, however it is a major challenge in perinatal health care, as it accounts for 35% of all neonatal deaths worldwide due to its short term and long term complications. The overall rate of preterm birth has increased over the last few years, the exact etiology of preterm birth is often unknown, and many researches found that the etiology of Preterm birth is multifactorial, however there is strong association between preterm birth, infection and non infectious inflammatory preterm birth that contribute to premature initiation of parturitional cascade and imbalance between proinflammatory cytokine (IL-6) and antiinflammatory cytokine(IL-10), so there is growing efforts in the identification of markers that may facilitate prediction and prevention of preterm birth complications, however noninvasive measurements of maternal serum cytokines concentrations is preferred over invasive measurements of maternal cytokines concentrations via amniocentesis. This study was conducted at Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital from January 2013 to October 2013. After informed written consent which was obtained from each participant prior to inclusion in the study.