The Role of Serum of Interleukin-6 in Predicting the Development of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome in Infants Born With Meconium-Stained Amniotic Fluid

Meconium aspiration syndrome happens when a baby inhales a combination of meconium (the first stool) as well as amniotic fluid into their lungs during the delivery process. Meconium aspiration syndrome is a prevalent reason for significant respiratory failure in full-term or post-term newborns. MAS fluid is responsible for around 8 to 19% of all term deliveries, and meconium aspiration syndrome develops in around five to thirty-three percent of these infants (1).

Interleukin-6 is classified as a cytokine. One of the mediators of inflammation released early in septic shock is critical for initiating the immune response. It also has a role in activating T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes, as well as encouraging lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation. Furthermore, IL-6 possesses strong pyrogenic properties. Additionally, it stimulates the secretion of acute-phase proteins like CRP (2).

IL-6 is a powerful inflammatory agent, as well as its level in the blood has been assessed as a predictive marker in many studies. It is considered one of the foremost indications of prenatal inflammation. Raised levels of interleukin-6 are also observed in both infectious & non-infectious inflammatory and stressful conditions (2, 3).

Nonspecific symptoms such as a rise in breathing in flattening of the diaphragm, radiography & irregular linear or patchy patches of atelectasis are observed during the early phase of meconium aspiration syndrome. These signs are present in the early stages of syndrome. However, characteristic indications, for instance, extensive, coarse, and evenly distributed opacities resulting from pneumonia & interstitial edema, may not manifest until 2-3 days later. Therefore, it is necessary to use indicators to predict whether people are prone to developing MAS. The role of inflammation in the progression of MAS is acknowledged (4).

Prior studies have shown that cytokine levels in Meconium aspiration syndrome experience an elevation in both controlled laboratory conditions (in vitro) as well as living creatures (in vivo) (5).