Relationship between meconium staining and thymic stromal lymphopoietin

A. Aktulay, Y. Engin-Ustun, M.S. Ozkan, C. Demirtas, O. Yenicesu, E.G.Y. Eyi, L. Mollamahmutoglu

Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. aaktulay@yahoo.com

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• Obstetrics

OBJECTIVE: Epithelium-derived thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), is a key pro-allergic cytokine that has recently been linked to chronic airway diseases. Our aim is to determine cord blood TSLP levels in pregnancies with meconium stained amniotic fluid.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 44 pregnant women with meconium stained amniotic fluid and a total of 44 healthy pregnant women were enrolled in the study. Cord blood TSLP was measured with TSLP ELISA Kit.

RESULTS: We found no statistically significant differences between 2 groups in terms of age and parity. TSLP levels were found to be significantly higher in the cord blood of pregnant women with meconium stained amniotic fluid (104.3 ± 96.9 ng/ml) compared with the control group (63.2 ± 65.3 ng/ml) (p = 0.022).

CONCLUSIONS: It seems that TSLP is produced and released in response to meconium.

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