The Role of Preoperative Inflammatory Markers in Cervical Cerclage Success.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the inflammatory markers between therapeutic and emergency cerclage and assess the predictive role of inflammatory markers for the latency period.

Study design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Turkiye, from January 2016 to September 2022.

Methodology: The therapeutic cerclage group (n = 64) included patients with a history of cervical insufficiency, normal prenatal screening test results, and who underwent cerclage based on history indications. The emergency cerclage group (n = 14) included patients with painless cervical dilation in the second trimester or a history of preterm and a short cervix on ultrasonography. Exclusion criteria composed of multiple pregnancies, active uterine contractions, vaginal bleeding, chorioamnionitis, membrane rupture, foetal anomalies, history of conization or abdominal cerclage, and having inflammatory diseases. Sociodemographic features, perinatal outcomes, and inflammatory markers such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein, and systemic immune-inflammation index were compared. Systemic immune-inflammation index was calculated by formulating the multiplication value of the neutrophil and platelet count divided by the lymphocyte count.

Results: The latency period was shorter (5.5 (0-29) vs. 20 (1-31) weeks, p <0.001) in the emergency cerclage group. Neutrophil-to- lymphocyte ratio and systemic immune-inflammation index, which are representatives of increased inflammatory state, were significantly higher in the emergency cerclage group (p = 0.007 for both). Systemic immune-inflammation index was correlated with cerclage to delivery interval for all patients (r = -0.307, p = 0.006). Also, it predicted neonatal mortality with a cut-off value of 1078.08, 90% sensitivity and 70.59% specificity (AUC = 0.776, p <0.001) and low Apgar scores with 57.1% sensitivity and 74% specificity (AUC = 0.641, p = 0.038).

Conclusion: Systemic immune-inflammation index, correlated with cerclage to delivery interval, could be a marker for predicting neonatal mortality and morbidity in cerclage patients.

Key words: Cervical cerclage, Inflammatory markers, Perinatal outcomes, Systemic immune-inflammation index.