title: Microalbumin as a marker of premature delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if microalbumin excretion can predict the development of premature delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The possibility of predicting, early in pregnancy, the development of a preterm delivery using urinary albumin was investigated in 1422 nulliparous women recruited prospectively. A first morning urine sample was collected at three occasions during pregnancy (8-14, 15-24, 25-34 weeks' gestation) for the determination of urinary albumin excretion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant correlation was found between gestational age and urinary albumin (absolute concentration, albumin-creatinine ratio, or relative clearance of albumin) at either visit (r ranging from -0.043 to 0.036; P > .1). The incidence of preterm birth was similar for the first and fourth quartiles of the urinary albumin-creatine ratio for the second visit (5.8 and 5.7%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urinary albumin is not a useful marker of preterm birth in a low-risk general population.
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche, Hôpital Saint-François d'Assise, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Massé
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Forest
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moutquin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000652:urine; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers