Effects of Ketamine on the Profile of Cytokines and Bdnf in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood During Cesarean Delivery

Zhi-yang Yu; Yang Liu; Zu-chao Huang; Dong-ge Pan

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14

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| Peer-Reviewed

Effects of Ketamine on the Profile of Cytokines and Bdnf in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood During Cesarean Delivery

Zhi-yang Yu

, Yang Liu

, Zu-chao Huang

, Dong-ge Pan^*

Published in American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (Volume 13, Issue 6)

Received: 1 December 2025 Accepted: 15 December 2025 Published: 29 December 2025

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Abstract

Objective: Shivering is a frequent and undesirable complication of cesarean section with spinal anesthesia. The present study aimed to determine the effects of ketamine on the levels of cytokines, immunoglobulins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) during cesarean section-mediated perioperative shivering. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, eighty patients undergoing cesarean section were enrolled. They were randomly allocated to one of two groups: a control group (n = 40) that received normal saline, and a ketamine group (n = 40) that received ketamine at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg. Maternal blood samples were collected at three predefined time points: after study drug administration (T1), after umbilical cord clamping (T2), and at the end of surgery (T3). Results: At the T2 time point, the ketamine group exhibited a significant reduction in maternal cytokine concentrations compared to the saline control. Umbilical cord immunoglobulin concentrations were comparable between groups. Moreover, no correlation was found between umbilical cord BDNF and maternal cytokine levels at T2. Conclusions: Ketamine alleviated cesarean section-mediated perioperative shivering via diminishing cytokines, without impacting the levels of BDNF or immunoglobulins. Moreover, ketamine treatment decreased the levels of cytokines in the maternal blood; thus, abrogating the risk of transferal into the neonate.

Published in	American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (Volume 13, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14
Page(s)	184-192
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

BDNF, Cytokines, Ketamine, Shivering, Umbilical Blood

References

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APA Style

Yu, Z., Liu, Y., Huang, Z., Pan, D. (2025). Effects of Ketamine on the Profile of Cytokines and Bdnf in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood During Cesarean Delivery. American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 13(6), 184-192. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14

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ACS Style

Yu, Z.; Liu, Y.; Huang, Z.; Pan, D. Effects of Ketamine on the Profile of Cytokines and Bdnf in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood During Cesarean Delivery. Am. J. Clin. Exp. Med. 2025, 13(6), 184-192. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14

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AMA Style

Yu Z, Liu Y, Huang Z, Pan D. Effects of Ketamine on the Profile of Cytokines and Bdnf in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood During Cesarean Delivery. Am J Clin Exp Med. 2025;13(6):184-192. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14

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@article{10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14,
  author = {Zhi-yang Yu and Yang Liu and Zu-chao Huang and Dong-ge Pan},
  title = {Effects of Ketamine on the Profile of Cytokines and Bdnf in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood During Cesarean Delivery},
  journal = {American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine},
  volume = {13},
  number = {6},
  pages = {184-192},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajcem.20251306.14},
  abstract = {Objective: Shivering is a frequent and undesirable complication of cesarean section with spinal anesthesia. The present study aimed to determine the effects of ketamine on the levels of cytokines, immunoglobulins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) during cesarean section-mediated perioperative shivering. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, eighty patients undergoing cesarean section were enrolled. They were randomly allocated to one of two groups: a control group (n = 40) that received normal saline, and a ketamine group (n = 40) that received ketamine at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg. Maternal blood samples were collected at three predefined time points: after study drug administration (T1), after umbilical cord clamping (T2), and at the end of surgery (T3). Results: At the T2 time point, the ketamine group exhibited a significant reduction in maternal cytokine concentrations compared to the saline control. Umbilical cord immunoglobulin concentrations were comparable between groups. Moreover, no correlation was found between umbilical cord BDNF and maternal cytokine levels at T2. Conclusions: Ketamine alleviated cesarean section-mediated perioperative shivering via diminishing cytokines, without impacting the levels of BDNF or immunoglobulins. Moreover, ketamine treatment decreased the levels of cytokines in the maternal blood; thus, abrogating the risk of transferal into the neonate.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effects of Ketamine on the Profile of Cytokines and Bdnf in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood During Cesarean Delivery
AU  - Zhi-yang Yu
AU  - Yang Liu
AU  - Zu-chao Huang
AU  - Dong-ge Pan
Y1  - 2025/12/29
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14
T2  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
JF  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
JO  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
SP  - 184
EP  - 192
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8133
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14
AB  - Objective: Shivering is a frequent and undesirable complication of cesarean section with spinal anesthesia. The present study aimed to determine the effects of ketamine on the levels of cytokines, immunoglobulins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) during cesarean section-mediated perioperative shivering. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, eighty patients undergoing cesarean section were enrolled. They were randomly allocated to one of two groups: a control group (n = 40) that received normal saline, and a ketamine group (n = 40) that received ketamine at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg. Maternal blood samples were collected at three predefined time points: after study drug administration (T1), after umbilical cord clamping (T2), and at the end of surgery (T3). Results: At the T2 time point, the ketamine group exhibited a significant reduction in maternal cytokine concentrations compared to the saline control. Umbilical cord immunoglobulin concentrations were comparable between groups. Moreover, no correlation was found between umbilical cord BDNF and maternal cytokine levels at T2. Conclusions: Ketamine alleviated cesarean section-mediated perioperative shivering via diminishing cytokines, without impacting the levels of BDNF or immunoglobulins. Moreover, ketamine treatment decreased the levels of cytokines in the maternal blood; thus, abrogating the risk of transferal into the neonate.
VL  - 13
IS  - 6
ER  -

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Author Information

Zhi-yang Yu

Department of Anesthesiology, Wuxi Huishan District People’s Hospital, Wuxi, China;Department of Anesthesiology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9419-7291
Yang Liu

Department of Anesthesiology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3419-0220
Zu-chao Huang

Department of Anesthesiology, Wuxi Huishan District People’s Hospital, Wuxi, China

http://orcid.org/0009-0001-3172-8067
Dong-ge Pan

Department of Anesthesiology, Wuxi Huishan District People’s Hospital, Wuxi, China

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0006-9115-6722

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APA Style

Yu, Z., Liu, Y., Huang, Z., Pan, D. (2025). Effects of Ketamine on the Profile of Cytokines and Bdnf in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood During Cesarean Delivery. American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 13(6), 184-192. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14

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ACS Style

Yu, Z.; Liu, Y.; Huang, Z.; Pan, D. Effects of Ketamine on the Profile of Cytokines and Bdnf in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood During Cesarean Delivery. Am. J. Clin. Exp. Med. 2025, 13(6), 184-192. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14

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AMA Style

Yu Z, Liu Y, Huang Z, Pan D. Effects of Ketamine on the Profile of Cytokines and Bdnf in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood During Cesarean Delivery. Am J Clin Exp Med. 2025;13(6):184-192. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14

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@article{10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14,
  author = {Zhi-yang Yu and Yang Liu and Zu-chao Huang and Dong-ge Pan},
  title = {Effects of Ketamine on the Profile of Cytokines and Bdnf in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood During Cesarean Delivery},
  journal = {American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine},
  volume = {13},
  number = {6},
  pages = {184-192},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajcem.20251306.14},
  abstract = {Objective: Shivering is a frequent and undesirable complication of cesarean section with spinal anesthesia. The present study aimed to determine the effects of ketamine on the levels of cytokines, immunoglobulins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) during cesarean section-mediated perioperative shivering. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, eighty patients undergoing cesarean section were enrolled. They were randomly allocated to one of two groups: a control group (n = 40) that received normal saline, and a ketamine group (n = 40) that received ketamine at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg. Maternal blood samples were collected at three predefined time points: after study drug administration (T1), after umbilical cord clamping (T2), and at the end of surgery (T3). Results: At the T2 time point, the ketamine group exhibited a significant reduction in maternal cytokine concentrations compared to the saline control. Umbilical cord immunoglobulin concentrations were comparable between groups. Moreover, no correlation was found between umbilical cord BDNF and maternal cytokine levels at T2. Conclusions: Ketamine alleviated cesarean section-mediated perioperative shivering via diminishing cytokines, without impacting the levels of BDNF or immunoglobulins. Moreover, ketamine treatment decreased the levels of cytokines in the maternal blood; thus, abrogating the risk of transferal into the neonate.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effects of Ketamine on the Profile of Cytokines and Bdnf in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood During Cesarean Delivery
AU  - Zhi-yang Yu
AU  - Yang Liu
AU  - Zu-chao Huang
AU  - Dong-ge Pan
Y1  - 2025/12/29
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14
T2  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
JF  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
JO  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
SP  - 184
EP  - 192
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8133
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251306.14
AB  - Objective: Shivering is a frequent and undesirable complication of cesarean section with spinal anesthesia. The present study aimed to determine the effects of ketamine on the levels of cytokines, immunoglobulins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) during cesarean section-mediated perioperative shivering. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, eighty patients undergoing cesarean section were enrolled. They were randomly allocated to one of two groups: a control group (n = 40) that received normal saline, and a ketamine group (n = 40) that received ketamine at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg. Maternal blood samples were collected at three predefined time points: after study drug administration (T1), after umbilical cord clamping (T2), and at the end of surgery (T3). Results: At the T2 time point, the ketamine group exhibited a significant reduction in maternal cytokine concentrations compared to the saline control. Umbilical cord immunoglobulin concentrations were comparable between groups. Moreover, no correlation was found between umbilical cord BDNF and maternal cytokine levels at T2. Conclusions: Ketamine alleviated cesarean section-mediated perioperative shivering via diminishing cytokines, without impacting the levels of BDNF or immunoglobulins. Moreover, ketamine treatment decreased the levels of cytokines in the maternal blood; thus, abrogating the risk of transferal into the neonate.
VL  - 13
IS  - 6
ER  -

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