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Relationship between Cervical Mucus Interleukin‐8 Concentrations and Vaginal Bacteria in Pregnancy
Author(s) -
Sakai Masatoshi,
Ishiyama Akihiko,
Tabata Mika,
Sasaki Yasushi,
Yoneda Satoshi,
Shiozaki Arihiro,
Saito Shigeru
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2004.00203.x
Subject(s) - mucus , lactobacillus , pregnancy , cervical mucus , bacterial vaginosis , medicine , premature birth , anaerobic bacteria , anaerobic exercise , interleukin , vagina , gestational age , physiology , obstetrics , biology , cervix , bacteria , cytokine , surgery , ecology , genetics , cancer
Problem: High interleukin (IL)‐8 concentration in cervical mucus in the second trimester is a risk factor for premature birth. We investigated the relationship between vaginal pathogens and IL‐8 in cervical mucus. Method of study: In 501 women with single pregnancy, vaginal secretions were cultured for bacteria and cervical mucus IL‐8 concentrations were measured between 20 and 24 gestational weeks. Results: Lactobacillus species were detected in 56.0% of 84 subjects with high IL‐8 (≥377 ng/mL), significantly less often than in 417 subjects with IL‐8 below 377 ng/mL (84.7%; P < 0.0001). Anaerobic pathogens were detected in 83.3% of high IL‐8 subjects, significantly more often than in normal IL‐8 subjects (43.9%; P < 0.0001). By multivariate analysis, cervical IL‐8 was significantly high only in subjects without Lactobacillus species; they showed a significantly higher prematurity rate than Lactobacillus ‐positive subjects. Conclusions: Absence of vaginal Lactobacilli was associated with increased cervical IL‐8 and increased risk of premature delivery.