Immuno-clinical determinants of successful labor induction in prolonged pregnancy risk: a comprehensive assessment beyond 41 weeks of gestation

Aim - to evaluate the predictive value of serum levels of interleukins IL-6 and IL-8, combined with clinical and anthropometric characteristics, for forecasting the success of labor induction in women at risk of post-term pregnancy. Materials and methods. This prospective cohort study included 201 pregnant women at ≥41 weeks’ gestation undergoing labor induction at the Kyiv Perinatal Center between January 2023 and December 2024. Pre-induction serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels, Bishop score, and other clinical parameters were recorded. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of successful induction. Results. Among 201 patients, 145 (72.1%) had successful induction. IL-6, IL-8, and Bishop score were identified as independent predictors. The model demonstrated high predictive accuracy (AUC=0.966; sensitivity — 86.2%; specificity — 96.4%). Conclusions. Serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8, when combined with the Bishop cervical score, are reliable tools for predicting the outcome of labor induction in post-term pregnancy. Our findings underscore the pivotal role of inflammation in the mechanisms of labor, and serum IL-6, together with the clinical cervical assessment, may serve as a practical marker for risk stratification before induction. These results lay the groundwork for an individualized approach to managing post-term pregnancies. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The research protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the institution cited in the manuscript, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.