The role of interleukin-23 overexpression in preterm labour.

SADIQ, ALAA MOHAMMED; ZEINY, LUMA S.; AL AASAM, SHAMIM RIADH MOHAMMED; NASRAWI, ALAA JUMAAH MNAJI; LAFTA, NOOR ALI

Background: Cytokines may have a role in preterm labour pathophysiology. Many studies revealed the association of cytokines with preterm labour and explained partially the mechanism of preterm uterine contractions. Interleukin-23 (IL-23) is a novel pro-inflammatory cytokine that has been studied in many inflammatory and immunological conditions. The role of IL-23 overexpression in preterm labour is hypothesized by the causal link between inflammation and spontaneous preterm labour. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the role of IL-23 in patients with preterm labour. Study design: Case-control study. Setting: AL-Zahraa Teaching for Maternity and Pediatrics in Al-Najaf city/Iraq. Patient and methods: Fifty pregnant women in preterm labour with gestational age between 24 weeks to 36 weeks+6 days were controlled with fifty age- and gestational age-matched healthy pregnant women who were not in labour. The serum level of IL-23 was measured using the ELISA method and compared between the two groups. Result: There is a significant difference (P<0.001) in the mean serum level of IL-23 between patients with preterm labour (27.39±12.04 pg/ml) and those healthy preterm pregnant women who were not in labour (11.05±4.39 pg/ml). Using a cut-off value of 13.15 pg/ml for IL-23, the specificity, sensitivity, positive & negative predictive value and accuracy for the diagnosis of preterm labour were 92%, 90%, 90.2%, 91.8% and 91% respectively. Conclusion: IL-23 is an excellent test with promising diagnostic value in patients with preterm labour.

NAJAF (Iraq); IRAQ; PREMATURE labor; INTERLEUKIN-23; PREGNANT women; UTERINE contraction; GENETIC overexpression; GESTATIONAL age

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research (09752366), 2020, p674

0975-2366

Academic Journal

10.31838/ijpr/2020.SP1.111