Abstract
Introduction the aim of this study was to determine whether maternal serum
IL-6 and postnatal melatonin levels change with the mode of delivery.
Materials and Methods a prospective controlled study was performed on
pregnant women (17–43 years) over 37 weeks of pregnancy. Patients were
divided into three groups according to the route of delivery: Group 1) 30 women
delivering by vaginal route; Group 2) 30 delivering by iterative cesarean
section (CS); Group 3) delivering by emergency CS. Maternal serum IL-6 levels
were measured before and after delivery, and maternal colostrum melatonin levels
after delivery, and the results between the 3 groups compared.
Results pre-delivery and post-delivery maternal serum IL-6 levels were
significantly higher in patients who delivered vaginally than in patients who
delivered by the abdominal route (p<0.01). Maternal colostrum melatonin
levels of patients after delivery were significantly higher in patients who
delivered vaginally (32.88±7.16 ng/L) than in patients
who delivered by elective and emergent cesarean deliveries
(24.86±2.40 ng/L and
23.73±4.03 ng/L, respectively) (p<0.01).
Conclusion These data support, should there ever be a further need, the
benefit of vaginal delivery over cesarean section, in which cytokine and
melatonin levels are reduced compared to vaginal delivery.
Key words
Interleukin 6 - melatonin - colostrum - vaginal delivery - cesarean section