Evaluation of immunological cytokines among preterm and normal labor at AL-Najaf province

Abstract

Human labour at term is a physiological event that involves a coordinated set of changes in the uterine tissues (the myometrium, decidua, and uterine cervix) over the course of a few days or weeks. The physiologic-inflammatory process of labour is influenced by a combination of endocrine and mechanical factors, and it is pathologically initiated by uterine stretch and bleeding, which causes a fetus to be expelled from the uterus. During the study period from April 2024 to December 2024, a total of 60 clinical samples were obtained from patients who attended Al-Zahraa and Al-Hakiem hospitals in Al-Najaf province. The specimens, 30 serum samples, were collected from patients with preterm labor, in addition to 30 serum samples obtained from normal labor. Human Enzyme-Linked Immuno-sorbent Assay (ELISA) Kits were used to measure the levels of progesterone, IL-1α, IL-1β, and MCP-1 in serum. Findings indicate that there are no significant differences (p-<0.05) in progesterone levels between preterm labour women and normal pregnant women, but there are significant differences (p-<0.05) in IL-α and IL-β levels between preterm labour women and normal pregnant women, as well as significant differences (p-<0.05) in MCP-1 levels (p-<0.05).