IL6 and Sepsis: They also showed significantly elevated levels of IL-6 in umbilical cord blood (p = 0.001), and higher rates of early-onset sepsis (p = 0.001), respiratory distress (p = 0.005), feeding intolerance (p = 0.002), seizures (p = 0.04), and bleeding (p = 0.04), compared to the non-FIRS group.