Labor Affects Cytokine Production in Newborns

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Abstract
PROBLEM: To investigate whether the mode of delivery or the drugs given to the mother during labor may affect the newborns' immune system. METHOD OF STUDY: Three groups of term newborns were included: A, spontaneously delivered with i.v. analgesia (n = 37); B, spontaneously delivered with epidural analgesia (n = 26); and C, delivered by cesarean section under general anesthesia (n = 29). Natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, mitogenic response, and the capacity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to produce interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐3, IL‐6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α were examined. RESULTS: NK cell cytotoxicity increased significantly in all three groups of newborns on the second day of life. Decreased IL‐2 production was observed in newborns delivered by cesarean section. Spontaneous IL‐1β secretion was higher in newborns to mothers treated with epidural analgesia. Spontaneous IL‐6 secretion was elevated in infants to mothers undergoing general anesthesia and surgery or epidural analgesia. TNF‐α production was increased in newborns delivered by cesarean section. CONCLUSION: The immune response of the newborn is affected by the mode of delivery and/or drugs given to the mother during labor.