Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha as predictors of success after emergent cerclage

Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured in patients requiring an emergent cerclage to determine if they are predictive of successful pregnancy outcome. Women with a clinical diagnosis of cervical incompetence requiring an emergent cerclage between 15 and 24 weeks gestation were enrolled. Asymptomatic women of the same gestational age range were recruited as controls. IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Twenty-one women underwent emergent cerclage and participated in the study, 15 (71%) of whom delivered after 28 weeks. Twenty-one women served as controls. IL-6 levels were increased in women with cervical incompetence compared with control subjects, but there were no differences between cerclage success and failure groups. TNF-alpha was not increased in women with cervical incompetence and did not predict success of emergent cerclage. IL-6 levels were increased in women with cervical incompetence who required an emergent cerclage.