The Role of Amniotic Fluid Interleukin-6, and Cell Adhesion Molecules, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 and Leukocyte Adhesion Molecule-1, in Intra-Amniotic Infection

PROBLEM: To determine amniotic fluid concentrations and correlations of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1), and leukocyte adhesion molecule‐1 (LAM‐1) in patients with and without intra‐amniotic infection. METHOD OF STUDY: Fourteen specimens with intra‐amniotic infection and 45 without intra‐amniotic infection were studied. Intra‐amniotic infection was defined as the presence of a positive amniotic fluid culture. Amniotic fluid IL‐6, ICAM‐1, and LAM‐1 levels were determined by an enzyme‐linked immunoassay, and normalized by amniotic fluid creatinine levels. RESULTS: Amniotic fluid concentrations of IL‐6 and LAM‐1 were significantly higher in patients with than without intra‐amniotic infection. However, amniotic fluid ICAM‐1 concentrations were not significantly different between two groups. Amniotic fluid IL‐6, LAM‐1, and ICAM‐1 were positively correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that amniotic fluid IL‐6 is significantly associated with an increased adhesion molecule expression in intra‐amniotic infection. However, LAM‐1 plays a more important role than ICAM‐1 in intra‐amniotic infection.