[The use of serum nitric oxide level and cyclic guanosine monophosphate level as predictors of preterm delivery].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possibility of using nitric oxide and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels as predictors of preterm delivery.


METHODS
Two hundred and thirty pregnant women were enrolled in this study; among them were 210 normal pregnant women (from 28 to 36(+6) gestational weeks) and 40 preterm pregnant women (from 36 to 36(+6) gestational weeks). The serum nitric oxide and cGMP levels were examined by oscillopolarography and radioimmunoassay, respectively.


RESULTS
In the normal pregnant women (from 28 to 36(+6) gestational weeks) , the serum nitric oxide level gradually increased from 1.9575 +/- 0.3509 to 2.2360 +/- 0.3486 micromol/L, and the serum cGMP level increased from 31.1625 +/- 3.9082 to 42.1850 +/- 11.3816 micromol/L as well. The highest levels of serum nitric oxide and cGMP were found in the 34-34(+6) and 33-33(+6) gestational weeks, respectively. The serum nitric oxide and cGMP levels in the preterm pregnant women were significantly lower as compared with those in the normal pregnant women (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has demonstrated great possibilities in the use of serum nitric oxide and cGMP levels as predictors of preterm delivery. Further investigation needs to be performed.
Zhou
Rong
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Xlong
Qing
Q
You
Yong
Y
Qiu
Dongsheng
D
Zhang
Kerong
K
Liu
Shuyun
S
D000328:Adult; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D006152:Cyclic GMP