Leukocyte Influx in Postterm Women and Cervical Ripening
Author Information
Author(s): Lena Sahlin, Ylva Stjernholm-Vladic, Nathalie Roos, Britt Masironi, Gunvor Ekman-Ordeberg
Primary Institution: Karolinska Institutet
Hypothesis
What are the differences in cervical biopsies between women with spontaneous delivery at term and those who are successfully or unsuccessfully induced post term?
Conclusion
The study found that impaired leukocyte influx in non-responders may explain the failure of cervical ripening in postterm women.
Supporting Evidence
- Leukocyte influx was strongest in responders, lower in controls, and significantly lower in non-responders.
- IL-8, PAF-R, and MMP-9 showed significantly reduced levels in non-responders.
- Non-responders had a lower median Bishop score before treatment compared to responders.
Takeaway
Some women have trouble going into labor after their due date because their bodies don't let enough white blood cells into the cervix, which is important for preparing for delivery.
Methodology
Cervical biopsies were taken from three groups: responders, non-responders, and controls, and analyzed for leukocyte presence and various proteins.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small number of samples from the non-responder group.
Limitations
The small sample size in the non-responder group limited the power of the statistical analyses.
Participant Demographics
All participants were nulliparous, healthy, non-smoking women with uncomplicated pregnancies.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website