title: Amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 and the development of cerebral palsy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Jeong Bin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Ju Cheol
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bo Hyun
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Gilja
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Miha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soon-Sup
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shim
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8