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Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that neonates who develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia have higher amniotic fluid concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines than those who do not develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

The relationship between amniotic fluid concentrations of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-8 and the occurrence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the neonate was examined in 69 patients who were delivered of preterm neonates (≤33 weeks) within 5 days of amniocentesis. Cytokines were measured by specific immunoassays.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia was diagnosed in 19% (13/69) of newborns. Median amniotic fluid concentrations of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-8 concentrations were significantly higher in mothers whose infants had bronchopulmonary dysplasia …