조기진통과 자궁내감염과의 관련성을 조사하기 위하여 조기 임신 비진통군, 조기임신 진통군, 만기임신 비진통 군, 만기임신 진통군의 4군의 임신부를 대상으로 양수내 IL-1 b, IL-6의 증가 및 기타 자궁내감염소견 발생율 을 서로 비교하였다. 양수내 IL-1은 3예를 제외하고는 100pg/ml 이하의 낮은 수준을 보여 조기진통의 발생과 관련성이 적었다. 양수내 IL-6는 조기진통 및 만기진토에 구별없이 진통이 있는 임신부에서 공히 증가하였으 며 특히 자궁경관의 개대가 진행할수록 IL-6의 증가가 더욱 현져하였다. 따라서 양수내 IL-6의 증가는 조기진 통원인의 일부인 자궁내 감염에 의해서 증가된 것으로 해석하기보다는 진통 및 자궁개대에 수반되어 결과적으 로 나타나는 현상으로 해석하는 것이 타당할 것으로 사료되었다.

Subclincal instrauterine infection was suggested as a cause of idiopathic preterm labor. Four groups of 66 pregnant women were studied. Women in the midtrimester of pregnancy undergoing genetic amniocentesis were studied as a preterm without labor group. Women with preterm labor were also studied. Term pregnant women undergoing repeat cesarean section were included as a term without labor group Women with term labor group were also included in the study. Amniotic fluid was obtained through amniocentesis. The fluid was culturd for aerobic and anaerobic bacterias. After centrifugation an aliquot of amniotic fluid was frozen(-70 C) for futher analsis. Interleukin-1(IL-1) and interleukin-6(IL-6) levels were measured by hexokinase method. Placentas were examined for histologic choriamninitis after delivery. Only two women with term labor showed opsitive amniotic fluid culture. Glucose levels were lower in the amniotic fluid of erm pregnant women than perterm pregnant women. IL-1 level in the amniotic fluid were increased over 290 pg/ml in 2 case of term labor group. IL-6 were found in all samples of amniotic fluid. The levels were increased in the women having either preterm or term labor IL-6 levles in the amniotic fluid were proportionally increased according to the degree of the cervical dilatation. The results suggested that the increased level IL-6 was a resullt of labor and/or cervical dilatation rather than a cause of intrauterine infection evoking preterm labor. Histologic choriamnionits were increased in the placenta of both preterm labor. Histologic choriamnionits were increased in the placenta of both preterm labor group and term labor group. The incidence rates of histologic choreioamnionitis were not statistically different among groups.