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38 CYTOKINE SERUM LEVELS AND WHOLE BLOOD SUPEROXIDE ANION GENERATION IN MOTHERS AND NEWBORNS DURING PERIPARTUM

The present study was undertaken in order to evaluate the relationship between cytokine plasma levels and leucocyte burst in mothers and neonates during peripartum. Serum levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and GM-CSF, and whole blood superoxide anion generation (SAg) were evaluated in 27 healthy mothers, 16 undergoing spontaneous delivery (SD) and 11 elective cesarean section (ECS), and in their babies. Blood specimens were taken from the mothers at the beginning of labour (BL), during labour (DL), immediately after delivery (AD) and 4 days after delivery (4DAD) in the SD group, and before the operation, AD and 4DAD in ECS group, from the cord and from the babies 4DAD. The cytokines (IU/ml) were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. The SAg assay was performed spectrophotometrically by the method of superoxide dismutase inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome C, with opsonized zymosan stimulation of PMN in whole blood. Statistical analysis was performed by two-tailed “t” test and by linear correlation. After delivery, SD mothers had higher levels of IL-Iß, IL-6 and IFN-γ than ECS (IL-1ß: 55.6 ± 49 vs 38.4 ± 23 p < 0.05; IL-6: 74.8 ± 68 vs 12.8 ± 6.7, p < 0.005; IFN-γ: 1.05 ± 1.02 vs 0.55 ± 0.38 p < 0.05; mean ± SD). IL-6 was higher in SD cord than ECS (20.6 ± 13 vs 12.6 ± 2.5, p < 0.05). No differences were found between the SD and ECS groups for TNF-α and GM-CSF. SAg in mothers was significantly correlated with SAg in the cord blood of their babies (BL: r = 0.64, p <0.01; DL: r = 0.71, p< 0.001). IL-6 values in mothers BL significantly correlated with SAg in mothers AD (r = 0.62, p <0.04) and SAg in cord blood of their babies (r= 0.54; p <0.05). In conclusion, labour appears to be associated with increased IL-Iß, IL-6 and IFN-γ and more active phagocyte function.