Maternal IL - 6 and IL - 8 as early biomarkers of infection in Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) and Preterm Labor (PTL): A prospective observational study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Preterm delivery constitutes one of the most serious problems in obstetric care. Despite implementation of various health measures & medical interventions, preterm births continue to increase. Urogenital infection being a prime cause of PPROM (50%) & PTL (40%), timely detection & early management remains critical. Although PPROM affects only 2.4 - 3.5% of pregnancies compared to PROM (5 - 10%), it is associated with substantially higher neonatal morbidity and mortality. Prematurity accounts for nearly 75% of neonatal mortality & long - term morbidity imposing a substantial healthcare burden worldwide. Objective: To evaluate maternal serum IL - 6 & 8levels in women with PPROM & PTL and determine their association with vaginal microbial profile and early - onset neonatal sepsis. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 350 antenatal women diagnosed with PPROM (n = 277) or PTL (n = 73). High vaginal swabs were collected for microbial isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Maternal serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels were measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). All neonates were prospectively followed for early - onset sepsis based on clinical and laboratory findings. The association between vaginal culture and interleukin levels was analyzed using appropriate statistical methods, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Among the 350antenatal women,46.85% showed culture positivity with Klebsiella pneumoniae (26.08%in PPROM) & Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.07% in PTL) as a principal pathogen. Multidrug - Resistant (MDR) organisms constituted 11.82% of all isolates. Correlation between vaginal cultures and inflammatory marker showed a p value of < 0.00001. During follow - up, early - onset sepsis occurred in 20% of neonates. Conclusion: Maternal IL-6 and IL-8 levels reflect the intensity of the inflammatory response associated with PPROM & PTL and highlights a strong association with infection. Integration of these inflammatory biomarkers into the clinical assessment of high-risk pregnancies may improve early risk stratification, facilitate timely therapeutic intervention and to optimize neonatal care. Further multicentric studies are required to validate their diagnostic utility.
Authors: V Paskin Dsouza, S Parvathi, B Appalaraju
Institution: PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research
Language: English
Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7168376989