Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein-1 and Interleukin-6 are Markers of Fetal Stress During Parturition at Term Gestation

Abstract

Increasing stress and energy demands during birth are accompanied by increasing fetal levels of glucose-mobilizing hormones in combination with depressed levels of insulin and IGF-I, despite increasing blood glucose. Furthermore, IGFBP-1 and IL-6 increase steeply, presumably aimed at diminishing insulin-like activity of IGF-I, thereby reducing peripheral glucose utilization. We believe that IGFBP-1 and IL-6 deserve evaluation as potential intrapartum indicators of fetuses at risk for asphyxia.