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Updated: May 24, 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
Amniotic fluid inflammation with negative culture and outcome after cervical cerclage
Eduardo Aguin1, Tina Aguin, Marcos Cordoba
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA. eaguin@hotmail.com
Objective:
To determine whether amniotic fluid (AF) inflammation, in the absence of infection, is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in nonelective cervical cerclage patients.
Methods:
A retrospective case-control study was carried out. The patient population included 82 singleton pregnancies with negative AF cultures. The variables used to define AF inflammation were white blood cell count (WBC) >50 cell/mm(3), glucose <14 mg/dl or interleukin-6 (IL-6) >11.3 ng/ml. The study group consisted of cases with intra-amniotic inflammation. Sub-analysis was performed for the groups in which IL-6 concentrations were measured. Adverse outcomes were evaluated with variables such as gestational age at delivery, interval from cerclage to delivery, chorioamnionitis and cumulative neonatal morbidity.
Results:
Elevated AF WBC was correlated with severe and extreme preterm delivery (p < 0.05). Decreased AF glucose was associated with histological chorioamnionitis and a decreased cerclage to delivery interval (p < 0.05). Elevated AF IL-6 correlated significantly with decreased gestational age at delivery (p < 0.012) and decreased cerclage to delivery interval (p < 0.001). Elevated IL-6 concentrations were associated with severe, extreme preterm delivery (p < 0.001) and neonatal death (p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Elevated AF IL-6, elevated WBC and low AF glucose, in the absence of a positive AF culture, are significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing nonelective cerclage.
