Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare maternal fever, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels among women who were administered either epidural or intravenous labor analgesia. The study included 30 pregnant women who had applied to the Gynecology & Obstetrics Clinics of Antalya Training and Research Hospital to have normal delivery. Patients were randomized to receive either epidural (Group I) or intravenous (Group II) analgesia. In both groups before analgesia and after the termination of labor, 5 ml blood was taken into yellow-cap gel tubes, which were centrifuged at 4100 rpm for 10 minutes. Sera were stored in 1-ml Eppendorf tubes at -800C. Serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels were measured with Human IL-6-PicoKine ELISA kit with a control vial and Human IL-8-PicoKine ELISA. The temperature was followed throughout the labor period. No patient in either group had a temperature above 380C during the labor period. Both groups showed significant increases in post-delivery IL-6 levels compared to pre-delivery levels (p

Key words: Interleukin, labor analgesia, maternal fever