Predicting outcomes of emergency cerclage in women with cervical insufficiency using inflammatory markers in maternal blood and amniotic fluid

Abstract Objective To identify inflammatory markers in maternal blood and amniotic fluid that can predict outcomes of emergency cerclage in women with cervical insufficiency. Methods This retrospective cohort study included patients at 18–24 weeks of pregnancy who underwent amniocentesis before receiving emergency cerclage for cervical insufficiency between August 2004 and August 2013 at a university teaching hospital in South Korea. Total and differential white blood cell counts were measured during amniocentesis. Amniotic fluid was cultured and analyzed for the presence of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8. The primary outcome measure was spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) at less than 32 weeks of pregnancy following cerclage placement. Results Of 37 patients, 18 (49%) experienced SPTD at less than 32 weeks of pregnancy. These patients were found to have significantly more advanced cervical dilatation at presentation, as well as higher mean neutrophil–lymphocyte ratios (NLRs) and higher IL-6 and IL-8 levels in amniotic fluid in comparison with those who did not experience SPTD at less than 32 weeks of pregnancy. In a multivariable analysis, a high NLR and high amniotic fluid IL-8 levels showed a significant correlation with the occurrence of SPTD at less than 32 weeks of pregnancy ( P  = 0.032). Conclusion Pre-operative NLR and amniotic fluid IL-8 levels may be important markers for predicting emergency cerclage outcomes in women with cervical insufficiency.