Relationship between sTREM-1, MR-proADM, and IL-6 levels in the cord blood and infection of preterm premature rupture of membranes

Abstract

Background: There is an increase in the number of premature births due to the premature rupture of thefetal membrane (PROM). Premature infants are more susceptible to infection, but early signs of infectioncan be difficult to detect in neonates. Soluble trigger receptor -1 (sTREM-1) was expressed by myeloid cell,mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), and IL-6 may be useful markers for detecting earlyneonatal infection. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted in 689 premature infants with andwithout PROM to determine the risk factors for infection in PROM. The correlations between neonatalinfection after PROM and sTREM-1, MR-proADM, and IL-6 levels of the umbilical cord blood wereassessed in a cohort of 50 singleton infants. Results: Premature infants with PROM were divided intoinfected (n=151) and non-infected (n=234) groups and compared to 304 premature infants without PROM.No correlation was observed between PROM and ethnicity, gestational age, gender, or twin gestation. Asignificant correlation was observed between infection and PROM. In the PROM infants, there was anoteworthy correlation between gestational age and infection. Umbilical cord blood levels of sTREM-1,MR-proADM, and IL-6 were remarkably higher in the infected group than in the uninfected group.Conclusion: Infection during pregnancy is the main risk factor for PROM. In PROM neonates, gestationalage could be a major risk factor for infection. Umbilical cord blood sTREM-1 and MR-proADM levels,and to a lesser degree IL-6 levels, may be useful to predict early PROM and neonatal infection