Collagen synthesis during pregnancy, vitamin C availability, and risk of premature rupture of fetal membranes.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between plasma and leukocyte concentration of ascorbic acid and collagen type I propeptide C during pregnancy and subsequent premature rupture of membranes (PROM).


METHODS
Fifteen women with PROM and 26 controls were compared for plasma and leukocyte concentration of vitamin C and for Pro-C during pregnancy.


RESULTS
A statistically significant difference in maternal leukocyte ascorbic acid concentration was found between the two groups at week 28 of gestation (P50 was 16.90 for PROM group vs. 21.46 for control group; P>0.05). Increased risk for PROM (odds ratio, 10.99; 95% confidence interval, 2.40-49.91) was found with elevated concentrations of Pro-C at week 16 of gestation.


CONCLUSIONS
A higher rate of collagen synthesis early in pregnancy was demonstrated in PROM cases. However, no correlation with ascorbic acid availability was found. This study supports the findings of others that collagen metabolism disturbances are associated with PROM.
Tejero
E
E
Nutrition Research Department, Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia, Mexico City, Mexico.
Perichart
O
O
Pfeffer
F
F
Casanueva
E
E
Vadillo-Ortega
F
F
D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003094:Collagen / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000097:blood*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D010748:Phosphopeptides / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011347:Procollagen; D011486:Protein C; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*
C062121:N-propeptide type I collagen; D010748:Phosphopeptides; D011347:Procollagen; D011486:Protein C; D011498:Protein Precursors; C054836:protein C propeptide; D003094:Collagen; D001205:Ascorbic Acid