Interleukin-6 elevation in healthy neonates

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify peripartum and neonatal factors associated with elevated Interleukin-6 levels in the cord blood of neonates without clinical signs of an infection.

STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a prospective single-center study with healthy term and preterm neonates between March and November 2017. We investigated correlations between 21 peripartum factors and neonatal IL-6 concentrations.

RESULTS: Four hundred and seventy-one infants (GA: 32.9-42.3 weeks) were included. The risk for elevated neonatal IL-6 levels was 3.1 to 4.5-fold increased in the presence of either peripartum maternal temperature >37.5 °C (p = 0.012), duration of labor >12 h (p < 0.001), vaginal delivery (p < 0.001), or neonatal neutrophils >8 × 109 cells/L (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: The results indicate that a considerable number of neonates with elevated IL-6 levels can sufficiently cope with an exposition to substantial perinatal stress or intrauterine inflammation and do not require postnatal antibiotic treatment.