Effect of early versus conventional epidural analgesia during labor on cytokine production

To compare the effect of early epidural analgesia (EEA) vs. conventional epidural analgesia (CEA) on cytokine production in mother and neonate.

Healthy parturients with uncomplicated term pregnancies were randomized into two groups: EEA - parturients who would receive epidural analgesia before onset of pain and the control group, CEA - parturients who would receive epidural analgesia after onset of pain. Cytokines were measured in maternal blood at randomization Visual Analog Scale (VAS) < 30], 24 h postpartum, and in cord blood.

Forty-one women were studied. Epidural was performed in EEA when VAS was 23 ± 10 and in CEA when VAS was77 ± 10 (p < 0.0001). Background data were similar except for ruptured membranes at admission (EEA 15%, CEA 46.6%; p = 0.03), transient hypotension (EEA 20%, CEA 0%; p = 0.03), and meconium (EEA 25%, CEA 0%; p = 0.01). No significant differences were found in cytokine levels between groups at any time. Interleukin (IL)-6 levels changed significantly only in the control group (p = 0.046). There was significant correlation between baseline maternal IL-6 level and cord blood level in CEA (r = 0.59, p = 0.005), while no significant correlation existed in EEA (r = 0.33, p = 0.16).

Although there was no significant difference in cytokine levels between the groups, EEA prevented the significant increase in IL-6 during labor and interrupted IL-6 fetal-maternal dependency.