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Updated: Apr 30, 2026
Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice
Published on: October 10, 2025
Vaginal fluid IL-6 and IL-8 levels in pregnancies complicated by preterm prelabor membrane ruptures
Marian Kacerovsky1, Ivana Musilova, Bo Jacobsson
1Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove , Hradec Kralove , Czech Republic .
Objective:
To determine the vaginal fluid interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 concentrations in pregnancies complicated by preterm prelabor rupture of membranes and their correlation to microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) as well as histological chorioamnionitis (HCA).
Methods:
Sixty-eight women with singleton pregnancies were included in this study. Vaginal fluid was collected at the time of admission. IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in the vaginal fluid were determined using ELISA.
Result:
Women with MIAC had higher vaginal fluid IL-6 levels compared to those without MIAC (with MIAC: median 374 pg/mL versus without MIAC: median 174 pg/mL; p = 0.03). IL-8 levels were higher in women with MIAC only in the crude analysis but not after adjustment for gestational age. There was no difference in the IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations between those with and without HCA. Women with both MIAC and HCA had higher IL-6 vaginal fluid levels than those without both MIAC and HCA (with MIAC and HCA: median 466 pg/mL versus without MIAC and HCA: median 178 pg/mL; p = 0.02). IL-8 levels were higher in women with MIAC and HCA only in the crude analysis but not after adjustment for gestational age.
Conclusions:
Vaginal fluid IL-6 but not IL-8 levels reflect the presence of MIAC and both MIAC and HCA.
