Interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-I in the cord blood as predictors of chronic lung disease in premature infants

A study was conducted to determine inflammatory cytokines and their profile in the cord blood of premature infants who were later complicated with chronic lung disease (CLD), and to assess whether these cytokines could be used as markers to predict the development of CLD in these infants. A major finding of the study was that the cord blood interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and soluble tumor necrosis factor-I (sTNFR-I) were significantly elevated in CLD infants compared with those in the control group.