The Relationship Between Plasma Inflammatory Cytokines and Labor Pain.

Background: Proinflammatory cytokines are increased in maternal blood at term pregnancy and are associated with cervical ripening and the initiation of labor. We hypothesize that maternal plasma cytokines also affect the sensitivity to labor pain.

Methods: By using a previously validated model describing labor pain, we used a deidentified database derived from healthy nulliparous parturients who delivered singleton pregnancies at term.

Maternal inflammatory markers and term labor performance.

Objective: We sought to examine the relationship between maternal markers of inflammation and labor performance.

Study Design: A 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.

Maternal inflammation in spontaneous term labor.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between peripheral markers of maternal inflammation and the onset of term labor.

Study Design: A nested case-control study was performed with serum that had been collected at routine visits from a cohort of 607 term nulliparous women. Cases (n = 20) labored spontaneously within 48 hours of enrollment, and control subjects (n = 80) labored spontaneously ≥14 days after enrollment.

Preterm birth after mature fetal lung indices: is there any neonatal morbidity?

Objective: To determine the frequency of immediate morbidities in neonates with evidence of mature fetal lung indices who delivered before 37 weeks gestation.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on pregnancies resulting in birth at < 37 weeks after mature fetal lung was documented by phosphatidylglycerol, lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio, or TDx-FLM studies. Pregnancies with multifetal gestations, maternal diabetes, or fetal anomalies were excluded.