• Jill T Cierny, E Ramsey Unal, Pamela Flood, Ka Young Rhee, Allison Praktish, Tara Hudak Olson, and Laura Goetzl.
• Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
• Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2014 May 1; 210 (5): 447.e1-6.

ObjectiveWe sought to examine the relationship between maternal markers of inflammation and labor performance.Study DesignA nested cohort study was performed utilizing an established cohort of term nulliparous patients. Maternal blood was collected at the onset of regular, painful contractions in patients undergoing labor induction or at admission in patients with spontaneous labor. Levels of cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α were determined using standard multiplex methodology. Maternal demographic data were collected prospectively. Detailed retrospective chart review was performed to extract data on cervical dilation, effacement, and station during labor. Subjects were excluded if they failed to achieve complete dilation. Mixed effects modeling was used to examine the association between serum cytokine quartiles and labor progress in the latent and active phases.ResultsIn all, 334 women were included in our analysis. The lowest quartile of IL-6 was associated with slower latent labor (P = .001). In contrast, the highest quartiles of IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α were associated with slower active labor (P = .03 and .0002, respectively).ConclusionProinflammatory activation is important in labor initiation. However, once active labor is established, excess inflammation can be detrimental to efficient labor progress. These data may explain, in part, the known associations among clinical chorioamnionitis, cesarean delivery, and postpartum hemorrhage.Copyright © 2014 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

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