ROLE OF CYTOKINES AND THEIR PRESENCE IN THE AMNIOTIC LIQUID AS A SIGN OF EARLY DETECTION OF PREMATURE BIRTH IN PREGNANT WOMEN

Abstract

Introduction. Cytokines play a significant role in the pregnancy. They are very powerful and important me-diators of the cell growth as well as regulators of the immune and inflammatory reactions. Several cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, TNF- alfa) are of crucial importance during the pregnancy since they are produced by the placentain the amniotic fluid, in case there is intraute-rine inflammation. Inpatients with premature birth, the intrauterine inflammation and infection is often present and leads to inflammatory syndrome of the human fetus. The intrauterine infection of the choriodecidual space and the amniotic fluid are the most common reasons for this obstetric complication, hence the most commonly examined etiologic factor. Aim. The study was conducted in order to prove the ratiobetween the increased level ofIL-6in the amniotic liquid at the beginning of the second trimester (16-22 g.w.) and the premature birth (< 36 g.w.). Methods. This is a case control study that has included 36 patientsso far.The pregnant women wererecruited fromthe Clinic of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. They all gave a signed consent on being informed about the aims of the study, and following the protocol, they were analyzed and examinedi. e. all patients under went ultra-sound examination, vaginal cervicometry; cervical and vaginal swabs were taken and 5 ml. amniotic fluid du-ring the process of amniocentesis. The study was performed at the Clinic ofGynaecology and Obstetrics, the Institute of Microbiology and Para-sitologyas well as the Institute ofImmunology and Hu-man Genetics. Results. The results obtained inthisstudy have confirmed the role of the cytokines i.e. they have shown an in-crease when there is inflammation in the intrauterine cavity which could lead in future to premature birth. There was an association between the risk of premature birth and positive cervical and vaginal swabs, length of cer-vix, and not a single case showed positive amnio-culture.