Cervical Ripening Induces Labour Through Interleukin 1β

Abstract
In order to study the Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) levels in mechanical cervical ripening with Foley catheter, IL-1 beta levels in amniotic fluid of 12 women before and after cervical ripening were compared with those in 23 women in spontaneous active labour. IL-1 beta was present in 81.8% of patients after cervical ripening and in none prior to it. In women with spontaneous labour 69.6% had immunodetectable IL-1 beta. Women with spontaneous labour and those sampled after cervical ripening had similar IL-1 beta levels in the amniotic fluid. Cervical ripening with Foley catheter is associated with high levels of IL-1 beta and this probably induces labour.

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