The relationship of interleukin-18 levels in maternal sera and fetal membranes with premature rupture of membranes

Objective:To detect the expression and distribution of interleukin-18 (IL-18) in premature rupture of membrane (PROM) as well as its clinicalpathological significance.Methods:Twenty-eight normal term-pregnant women as control, and forty-two women with PROM were enrolled. IL-18 levels in maternal sera and fetal membranes were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry. Sub-clinical chorioamnionitis was diagnosed histologically.Results:The expression of IL-18 in maternal serum and fetal membranes of PROM was significantly higher than those in normal pregnancy group(P0.05), and they did not increase in a PROM time-dependent manner (P0.05).The same results also occurred in PROM with and without sub-clinical chorioamnionitis (P0.05).There was a positive correlation between IL-18 levels in maternal sera and protein expressions in fetal membranes(P0.05).Conclusion:IL-18 highly expresses in PROM and this trend occurrs in the early period of PROM. There is possible of IL-18 to be a predictable index of PROM.