Amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 and the development of cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
To examine if increased concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) in amniotic fluid are associated with the development of cerebral palsy at the age of three years.


METHODS
The relationship between amniotic fluid concentrations of MMP-8 and the development of cerebral palsy was examined in 116 preterm singleton newborns (gestational age at birth < 35 weeks) born to mothers who underwent amniocentesis and were followed for at least 3 years. Amniotic fluid was cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and mycoplasmas. MMP-8 concentrations were measured by specific immunoassays. Cerebral palsy was diagnosed by neuro developmental assessment at the age of three years.


RESULTS
Median amniotic fluid concentration of MMP-8 was significantly higher in mothers whose newborns developed cerebral palsy than in mothers whose newborns did not develop cerebral palsy (median 153.9 [range < 0.3-1535.9] ng/ml vs median 6.4 [range < 0.3-3836.8] ng/ml; p < 0.01). Neonates who developed cerebral palsy were delivered at earlier gestational age than those without cerebral palsy. After adjustment for the gestational age at birth and the results of amniotic fluid culture, elevated concentrations of amniotic fluid MMP-8 significantly increased the odds of development of cerebral palsy (odds ratio, 6.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-33.0; p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased concentrations of amniotic fluid MMP-8 are associated with the subsequent development of cerebral palsy at the age of 3 years.
Moon
Jeong Bin
JB
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Laboratory of Fetal Medicine Research, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Ju Cheol
JC
Yoon
Bo Hyun
BH
Romero
Roberto
R
Kim
Gilja
G
Oh
Soo-Young
SY
Kim
Miha
M
Shim
Soon-Sup
SS
D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000209:etiology*; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8