The Role of Delivery Route on Colostrum Melatonin and Serum IL-6 Levels: A Prospective Controlled Study

Abstract

Introduction the aim of this study was to determine whether maternal serum IL-6 and postnatal melatonin levels change with the mode of delivery. Materials and Methods a prospective controlled study was performed on pregnant women (17-43 years) over 37 weeks of pregnancy. Patients were divided into three groups according to the route of delivery: Group 1) 30 women delivering by vaginal route; Group 2)30 delivering by iterative cesarean section (CS); Group 3) delivering by emergency CS. Maternal serum IL-6 levels were measured before and after delivery, and maternal colostrum melatonin levels after delivery, and the results between the 3 groups compared. Results pre-delivery and post-delivery maternal serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients who delivered vaginally than in patients who delivered by the abdominal route (p < 0.01). Maternal colostrum melatonin levels of patients after delivery were significantly higher in patients who delivered vaginally (32.88 +/- 7.16 ng/L)than in patients who delivered by elective and emergent cesarean deliveries (24.86 +/- 2.40 ng/L and 23.73 +/- 4.03 ng/L, respectively) (p < 0.01). Conclusion These data support, should there ever be a further need, the benefit of vaginal delivery over cesarean section, in which cytokine and melatonin levels are reduced compared to vaginal delivery.