Histologic Chorioamnionitis, Amniotic Fluid Interleukin 6, Krebs von den Lungen 6, and Transforming Growth Factor β₁ for the Development of Neonatal Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

<jats:sec><jats:title>Background:</jats:title><jats:p> Chorioamnionitis (CAM) is an important risk factor for the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives:</jats:title><jats:p> To evaluate the effects of CAM on the development of BPD using interleukin 6 (IL-6), Krebs von den Lungen 6 (KL-6), and transforming growth factor β<jats:sub>1</jats:sub> (TGF-β<jats:sub>1</jats:sub>) in the amniotic fluid as markers for inflammation, lung injury, and fibrosis/remodeling, respectively. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods:</jats:title><jats:p> Amniotic fluid concentrations of IL-6, KL-6, and TGF-β<jats:sub>1</jats:sub> were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results:</jats:title><jats:p> Of the 36 preterm infants, 18 were exposed to histologically confirmed CAM. Of these, 12 were later diagnosed as having BPD. The IL-6, KL-6, and TGF-β<jats:sub>1</jats:sub> levels in the amniotic fluid significantly increased with increasing histologic severity of CAM. Moreover, these markers were higher in the BPD group with histologic CAM than those without. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions:</jats:title><jats:p> Our study suggests that CAM is likely to induce inflammatory, injury, and remodeling processes in the fetal lung. </jats:p></jats:sec>