A study on the association between interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and TNF-Α levels and cervical morphological changes in the second trimester and preterm birth in twin pregnancies at Hai Phong Medical University Hospital

Tóm tắt

Objective: To determine the correlation between maternal blood levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) measured at 16 weeks of gestation and second-trimester cervical morphological changes on ultrasound, as well as preterm birth outcomes in twin pregnancies. Methods: This study was conducted on 93 women with twin pregnancies at 14–24 weeks of gestation at Hai Phong Medical University Hospital between 2023 and 2025. Maternal serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were measured at 16 weeks of gestation. Transvaginal ultrasound examinations were performed every two weeks at 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 weeks to assess cervical length and cervical angle. Comparisons were made between women who delivered preterm before 34 weeks, preterm before 37 weeks, and those who delivered at term. Results: The mean maternal age was 32.1 ± 4.7 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 21.1 ± 2.2 kg/m². The mean serum concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were 208.98 ± 5.64, 26.59 ± 2.04, and 19.14 ± 1.05, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed in serum IL-1β, IL-6, or TNF-α levels at 16 weeks among women who delivered preterm before 34 weeks, preterm before 37 weeks, and those who did not deliver preterm (p > 0.05). Furthermore, no statistically significant associations were found between maternal pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) and cervical length or cervical angle measured by second-trimester ultrasound. Conclusion: This study did not demonstrate a statistically significant correlation between maternal serum IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels at 16 weeks of gestation and preterm birth, nor with changes in cervical length or cervical angle on second-trimester ultrasound in women with twin pregnancies.