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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development
Published on: June 24, 2020
Color of meconium and interleukin-6
Raquel Silva-Bravo1, Gabriel Mayoral-Andrade, Edgar Zenteno
1Hospital General "Dr. Aurelio Valdivieso", Servicios de Salud del Estado de Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Objective:
To test the hypothesis that the color of meconial fluid is associated with inflammatory biomarkers, by determining C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum from the umbilical cord.
Methods:
In this prospective study, the authors selected 30 newborns with meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF): 14 with green/brown 656 R color and 16 with brown/cinnamon 654 R color, and 20 newborns which showed clear amniotic fluid without MSAF (non-MSAF); all newborns were from mothers without risk factors for neonatal sepsis.
Results:
IL-6 concentration from umbilical cord blood, [median of 12.9 pg/mL (interquartile range {IQR} 8.7-31.0)] of MSAF-green/brown 656 R increased significantly (p < 0.05) when compared with IL-6 concentration, [median of 9.2 pg/mL (IQR 7.2-12.2)] of newborns with clear amniotic fluid and without meconium. CRP from MSAF-green/brown 656 R was median of 0.5 mg/mL (IQR 0.0-2.7), and median of 1.0 mg/mL (IQR 0.0-5.5) from clear amniotic fluid, without meconium.
Conclusions:
Significant association was found between MSAF-green/brown 656 R and increase in IL-6, with normal CRP values.
Insights
Meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) color is linked to elevated Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in newborns. Green/brown MSAF showed a significant increase in IL-6, indicating a potential inflammatory marker association.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Perinatal Biology
- Inflammatory Biomarkers
Background:
- Meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) is a common finding in newborns.
- The color of MSAF may indicate fetal distress or inflammation.
- Investigating the association between MSAF color and neonatal inflammatory markers is crucial for understanding perinatal health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if the color of meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) correlates with specific inflammatory biomarkers.
- To analyze C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in umbilical cord serum based on MSAF color.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 30 newborns with MSAF (14 green/brown, 16 brown/cinnamon) and 20 non-MSAF controls.
- Mothers had no risk factors for neonatal sepsis.
- Umbilical cord blood was collected to measure serum CRP and IL-6 concentrations.
Main Results:
- Newborns with green/brown MSAF exhibited significantly higher Interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations compared to those with clear amniotic fluid.
- Median IL-6 levels were 12.9 pg/mL in the green/brown MSAF group versus 9.2 pg/mL in the non-MSAF group.
- C-reactive protein (CRP) levels did not show a significant difference between the MSAF and non-MSAF groups.
Conclusions:
- A significant association exists between green/brown MSAF and elevated IL-6 levels in umbilical cord blood.
- Elevated IL-6 in the context of green/brown MSAF may serve as an indicator of neonatal inflammation.
- CRP levels were not found to be significantly associated with MSAF color in this study.
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