<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Dermitzaki, E.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Staikou, C.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Petropoulos, G.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Rizos, D.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Siafaka, I.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Fassoulaki, A.</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">A randomized study of maternal serum cytokine levels following cesarean section under general or neuraxial anesthesia</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Cesarean Section</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Cytokines</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">General anesthesia</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IL-6</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Neuraxial anesthesia</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">TNF-α</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2009</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2009///</style></date></pub-dates></dates><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">18</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">33 - 37</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Background: Cytokines are significant mediators of the immune response to surgery and also play a role in parturition. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of the anesthetic technique for cesarean section on plasma levels of cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. Methods: Thirty-five parturients scheduled for elective cesarean section were randomly assigned to general (n = 18) or neuraxial (n = 17) anesthesia. The general anesthesia group received thiopental 4 mg/kg, succinylcholine 1-1.5 mg/kg and 1% end-tidal concentration of sevoflurane in nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen. The neuraxial anesthesia group received intrathecal 0.5% levobupivacaine 1.8-2.2 mL and epidural fentanyl 1 μg/kg. Blood samples were taken for IL-6 and TNF-α immediately after positioning the parturient on the operating table, after uterine incision and before the umbilical cord clamping and 24 h after surgery (T1, T2 and T3 respectively). Results: The two groups did not differ in IL-6 (P = 0.15) or TNF-α (P = 0.73) serum concentrations at any time point. In the general and neuraxial anesthesia groups, IL-6 serum concentrations were significantly higher in the third blood sample, T3 (12.2 ± 5.0 and 15.2 ± 4.3 pg/mL), than in T1 (0.41 ± 0.38 and 0.29 ± 0.10 pg/mL) and T2 (0.37 ± 0.47 and 0.24 ± 0.05) respectively (P &lt; 0.001). Within each group, serum TNF-α concentrations did not differ significantly over time (P = 0.44). Conclusions: Under the present study design anesthetic technique did not affect IL-6 or TNF-α concentrations in parturients undergoing elective cesarean section. Serum IL-6 levels increased 24 h postoperatively independently of anesthetic technique. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue></record></records></xml>