Table 2.
Plasma ascorbic acid and interleukin (IL)-6 levels between preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) group and control group
| Parameters | PPROM group (n=50) | Control group (n=50) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plasma ascorbic acid levels (mg/dL) at the time of enrolment | 0.60±0.35 | 1.18±0.43 | 0.000a) |
| Plasma IL-6 levels (pg/mL) at the time of enrolment | 18.18±5.94 | 5.59±4.36 | 0.000a) |
| Repeat plasma IL-6 levels (pg/mL) | 34.32±7.31 (48 hr after admission) | 7.36±3.67 (at the onset of labour) | - |
| No. of patients with low plasma ascorbic acidb) | 33 (66) | 6 (12) | 0.000c) |
| No. of patients with high IL-6b) | 39 (78) | 3 (6) | 0.000c) |
| No. of placental membrane culture (+) | 37 (74) | 3 (0.06) | 0.000c) |
Data are shown as mean±standard deviation or number (%).
a)
Independent t-test;
b)
Cut off levels for ascorbic acid was taken as ≤0.6 mg/dL [7] while cut off levels of IL-6 was taken as ≥15 pg/mL since this value predicted microbial invasion (confirmed on membrane culture sensitivity) of amniotic membranes in PPROM with high sensitivity and specificity;
c)
Pearson χ2 test.