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Am J Perinatol 2021; 38(10): 1036-1041
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1701508
Original Article

Umbilical Blood Levels of IL-6 and TNF-α as Predictors of the Central Nervous System Damage and Retinopathy in Preterm Infants

Daiva Bartkevičienė
1   Department of Neonatology, Centre of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
,
Ingrida Pilypienė
1   Department of Neonatology, Centre of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
,
Danielius Serapinas 
2   Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania
3   Department of Family Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
,
Brigita Vaigauskaitė
1   Department of Neonatology, Centre of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
,
Rasa Aurelija Vankevičiūtė
4   Department of Dermatovenereology, Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Dermatovenerology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
,
Agnė Bartkevičiūtė
4   Department of Dermatovenereology, Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Dermatovenerology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
,
Ieva Narkevičiūtė
5   Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
,
Irena Dumalakienė
5   Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
› Author Affiliations Funding Immunological studies of cord blood samples were funded by the Lithuanian State Science and Studies Foundation (2008–04–07 No. T-101/08).
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Abstract

Objective The aim was to identify the critical levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and vascular endothelial growth factor-A in umbilical cord blood that could be used as markers for predicting the central nervous system (CNS) damage and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants.

Study Design A total of 158 preterm infants, born at 22 to 34 weeks of gestation, were evaluated in the first week after birth and at 36 to 37 weeks of postconceptual age.

Results A significant relationship between CNS changes and concentrations of IL-6 (p < 0.001) and TNF-α (p < 0.001) in umbilical cord blood at 22 to 34 weeks of gestation was determined. The concentration of IL-6 >13.0 pg/mL predicts significant CNS damages in 36 to 37-week infants (p = 0.013). ROP was diagnosed in 24.8% infants (n = 149). It was detected that the levels of TNF-α >116.4 pg/mL (p < 0.001) and IL-6 >13.0 pg/mL (p < 0.05) in umbilical cord blood could predict 2 to 3/3 to 4 stages of ROP.

Conclusion Critical values of IL-6 and TNF-α in predicting ≥grade III intraventricular hemorrhage in the early adaptation and in predicting marked CNS damages and severe ROP stages in the later adaptation of preterm infants were determined.

Keywords

prematurity - cytokines - umbilical cord blood - intraventricular hemorrhage - retinopathy of prematurity


Publication History

Received: 23 July 2019

Accepted: 29 December 2019

Article published online:
12 February 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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