Association between interleukin-6 and preterm birth: a meta-analysis
Ying Chang, Wen Li, Yongmei Shen, Shanshan Li, Xu Chen
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-6 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in preterm birth (PTB), Several meta-analyses investigated the association between IL-6 and PTB, but definitive conclusion has not yet been achieved. This updated meta-analysis aimed to ascertain the association between IL-6 and PTB by examining IL-6 levels in both normal birth and PTB groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective cohort studies were retrieved in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library from their inception until 18 February 2020. The primary outcome was the association between IL-6 and PTB, and secondary outcomes were the association between IL-6 and spontaneous PTB. RESULTS: < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the available evidence, IL-6 in amniotic fluid and cervicovaginal fluid might be useful for predicting preterm birth.