Rapid evaluation of the absence of inflammation after rupture of membranes

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate the results of an immunochromatographic bedside test to detect IL6 and IL8 in vaginal secretions after rupture of membranes (ROM) with results obtained by ELISA tests.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 60 women with ROM or preterm ROM (PROM) was recruited. An immunochromatographic bedside test was performed with vaginal secretions samplings at admission, every 48 hrs until labor and during labor. Remaining samples were frozen for ELISA analysis. The results of bedside tests were compared to those from ELISA analysis for 114 samples.

Results: With all samples combined, the positive predictive values were 50% for IL6 and 86.8% for IL8 and the negative predictive values were 97.4% for IL6 and 53.3% for IL8. Kappa coefficients were 0.54 for IL6 and 0.41 for IL8.

Conclusion: Our findings show that a bedside test can detect the absence of IL6 in vaginal secretions. This result suggests that bedside test could be used for expectant management after premature PROM to inform the attending physician of the absence of inflammation in vaginal secretions.

• Bedside test
• cytokines
• inflammation
• rupture of fetal membranes
• vaginal secretions

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Mr Pierre Pothier for critical review of the manuscript.