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Aim The aim of this study was to determine whether the concentration of cytokines in the gastric fluid at birth was associated with chorioamnionitis or funisitis and with the white blood cell counts of very premature newborns. Methods We retrieved gastric fluid from 27 preterm infants with a gestational age of <29 weeks within 1 h of birth and used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the concentrations of interleukin ( IL)-1beta, epithelial cell-derived neutrophil-activating peptide ( ENA)-78, IL-8 and growth-related oncogene (Gro)-alpha. The presence of histologic chorioamnionitis or funisitis in the placentas and the highest white blood cell count of the infants during the first week of life were compared to the cytokine concentrations. Results Gastric fluid concentrations of IL-1beta, ENA-78, IL-8 and Gro-alpha were strongly associated with chorioamnionitis and funisitis. In addition, chorioamnionitis and funisitis and gastric aspirate cytokine levels were associated with the highest white blood cell counts of the infants during the first week of life. Conclusion This study suggests that levels of inflammatory cytokines in the gastric fluid of premature infants at birth can be used to assess the exposure of the infants to antenatal inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]