Fetal and early neonatal interleukin-6 response

Area of Science:

• Perinatal medicine
• Neonatology
• Immunology

Background:

• Systemic fetal cytokine response, marked by elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6), identified in 1998 as a risk factor for neonatal morbidity.
• IL-6 blood concentrations are increasingly studied as markers for fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS), early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS), and white matter injury (WMI).

Purpose of the Study:

• Critically review the biological functions of IL-6.
• Evaluate the evidence linking IL-6 to preterm birth, FIRS, and EONS.
• Assess IL-6's role in predicting neonatal outcomes, including WMI.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on IL-6 in fetal and neonatal periods.
• Analysis of IL-6 reference intervals and dynamics.
• Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy studies for EONS using IL-6.

Main Results:

• IL-6 is a significant indicator of fetal inflammation and a predictor of neonatal morbid events.
• Evidence supports the association between IL-6, preterm birth, FIRS, and EONS.
• Recent studies highlight the link between fetal IL-6, EONS, and WMI.

Conclusions:

• IL-6 is a crucial biomarker in perinatal medicine for identifying inflammatory states and predicting adverse neonatal outcomes.
• Further research is needed to refine the diagnostic and prognostic utility of IL-6.
• Understanding IL-6 dynamics is essential for managing high-risk pregnancies and neonates.