Interleukin 1beta in serum of women with preterm uterine contractions.

Preterm delivery is a major obstetric and public health problem, accounting for 50-70% of all perinatal deaths. An enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) test was used to determine serum interleukin 1b (IL-1b) levels in 32 women with preterm contractions compared with 26 women in term labour and 11 normal preterm pregnant women. Women with preterm contractions (with or without treatment) had significantly lower mean serum levels of IL-1b (23.5 pgr/ml) compared with women in term labour (218 +/- 57 pgr/ml), but similar levels to pregnant women not in labour at the same weeks of gestation.