Serum insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in premature rupture of membranes.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its major circulating binding protein, IGFBP-3, are affected in premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and preterm delivery.


METHODS
The levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were measured in 32 pregnant women with PROM and in 27 healthy gestational age-matched pregnant women. Statistical analyzes were performed by analysis of variance.


RESULTS
All the patients with PROM had preterm delivery, at a gestational age of 31.9 +/- 0.4 weeks (mean +/- SEM). In the control subjects, pregnancy proceeded to term. In the PROM patients, the serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels (289 +/- 21 ng/ml and 8248 +/- 407 ng/ml, respectively) were not statistically different from those in the control subjects (275 +/- 22 ng/ml and 7579 +/- 488 ng/ml). Seventeen patients with PROM showed a rise in serum C-reactive protein, indicating subclinical intrauterine infection. Also in this subgroup of patients the levels of serum IGF-I (281 +/- 27 ng/ml) and IGFBP-3 (9010 +/- 633 ng/ml) were not different from those in the control subjects. Before delivery, serial serum samples were available from 22 patients with PROM. No consistent changes in IGF-I or IGFBP-3 concentrations were seen during the mean follow-up period of 9 days.


CONCLUSIONS
IGF-I and IGFBP-3 do not appear to play any significant role in the maintenance of pregnancy in PROM patients with preterm delivery, whether or not associated with emerging intrauterine infection.
D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011255:Pregnancy Maintenance / Q000502:physiology*
D006133:Growth Substances; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C065700:myotrophin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein