LAUSR

IL-6 is thought to be involved in the prognosis of extremely low birth weight infants, in whom it leads to newborn organopathy. IL-6 also influences various processes in vivo, including thrombocytopoiesis. In the present study, we investigated whether the influence of IL-6 in the fetal period could be evaluated using the actual number of infant platelets, which is an index of thrombocytopoiesis. We retrospectively examined the perinatal information of extremely low birth weight infants, IL-6, the number of platelets (Plt), and the number of immature platelets fraction (IPF). The study population included 81 infants. The mean gestational age of the infants was 26.1±2.5 weeks and the mean birth weight was 729±161 g. The immature platelet count (Plt×IPF) was positively correlated with the IgM level (R=0.45, p<0.01) and the membrane rupture time (R=0.095, p<0.01). In addition, the Plt×IPF in the group in which the cord blood IL-6 level was ≥11 pg/mL was significantly higher than that in the group in which the cord blood IL-6 was <11 pg/mL (p<0.01). The Plt×IPF value at birth was associated with the IL-6 level in extremely low birth weight infants, which suggests the possibility that it may be used to evaluate fetal inflammation.