Comparison of interleukin-10 and interleukin-13 in cord blood of infants born by vaginal delivery and caesarean

Background: The present study assessed the levels of IL-13 and IL-10 in umbilical cord blood of infants born through normal vaginal delivery and infants born with cesarean section.   </p> <p>Methods: This pilot study was performed on 42 neonates born at Rasool-e-Akram hospital between May 2013 and May 2014 categorized into two groups born by vaginal delivery (n = 21) and those who born by cesarean section (n = 21).</p> <p>Results: No difference was observed between the two groups with normal vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery in the level of IL-13 in umbilical cord blood (1.42 {plus minus} 0.23 versus 1.40 {plus minus} 0.22, respectively, p = 0.785). The mean level of IL-10 in umbilical cord blood in the group with vaginal delivery was 6.35 {plus minus} 2.54 and in another group with cesarean section was 5.69 {plus minus} 2.42 with no significant difference (p = 0.393). According to the multivariate linear regression analyses, no difference was found between the two groups of the mode of delivery in the level of IL-10 (beta = -0.454, SE = 0.802, p = 0.575) and also in the level of IL-13 (beta = 0.012, SE = 0.076, p = 0.877). None of the indicators including gestational age, mother's age, sex of neonate, number of live births, history of abortion, and number of parity could predict increased level of the interleukins in umbilical cord blood. </p> <p>Conclusion: Mode of delivery may not be an indicator for altering cord blood levels of IL-13 and IL-10.