Recent data on the frequency of premature births and their outcomes for both the mother and the fetus are disappointing: the number of premature births continues to grow every year, varying from 5 to 18%, and prematurity remains the leading cause of death and disability for children around the world. Many of adverse consequences determines the priority of tasks to find mechanisms to reduce the frequency of premature births, the implementation of which is possible only with timely, pathogenetically sound forecasting, balanced assessment and effective risk management. The expansion of perceptions about pathological mechanisms has determined the integral role of infectious and inflammatory processes in the initiation of premature labor. At the same time, it seems important, but not completely solved, problem to determine the prognostic value of identification of the inflammatory biomarkers in relation to realisation of premature birth and adverse perinatal outcomes. This review discusses the characteristics of i