Few studies have investigated the roles of cytokines and chemokines in women with cervical insufficiency, and those that have done so evaluated only a limited number of cytokines in amniotic fluid.

A retrospective cohort study enrolled 71 patients undergoing physical examination‐indicated cerclage to determine whether expanded amniotic fluid cytokine levels predict spontaneous very pre‐term birth (≤32 weeks of gestation) in patients with cervical insufficiency. Analysis of multiple cytokines and chemokines was performed with the multiplex immunoassay.

Sixty‐seven amniotic fluid samples were available for analysis and assayed for 15 cytokines. Thirty‐eight (56.7%) patients delivered pre‐term. Of these, 26 (38.8%) were spontaneous very pre‐term births. Most cytokine levels were significantly increased in the amniotic fluid from the study group when compared with those from controls. The levels of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), IL‐ 6, IL‐ 7, IL‐15, IL‐17α, tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), MIP‐1α, and MIP‐1β were higher in patients with a very pre‐term delivery than in those with a late pre‐term delivery. IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐7, IL‐17α, TNF‐α, and cervical dilation were independently associated with a very pre‐term birth.

Intra‐amniotic inflammation may contribute to cervical insufficiency, and the severity of inflammation is associated with a very pre‐term birth in women with cervical insufficiency.