title: Association between serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and corticotropin-releasing hormone levels in women with preterm labor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association of serum corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in preterm labor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine primigravidas with a singleton viable pregnancy between 28 and 34 weeks of gestation were studied. They were divided into two groups. Group A consisted of 30 pregnant women (mean gestational age: 30.6 week) who presented with preterm labor and group B consisted of 19 pregnant women (mean gestational age: 29.8 week) with normal pregnancies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women of group A had significantly higher serum CRH levels compared to those of group B (P < 0.01). Similarly, serum TNF-alpha levels were significantly higher in women of group A when compared to women of group B (7.8 +/- 3.72 pg/mL and 5.1 +/- 3.72 pg/mL, respectively). Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between serum CRH and TNF-alpha levels in both groups, which was stronger in women of group A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that the increased levels of TNF-alpha and CRH found in pregnant women presenting with preterm labor may be involved in the pathophysiological mechanism of the latter. Furthermore, a positive interaction may exist between TNF-alpha and placental CRH, which may lead to enhanced production of the second and, therefore, facilitate the onset of labor.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Athens, Aretaieion Hospital, Athens, Greece. nikolasvitoratos@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Nicolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vitoratos
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Papadias
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Makrakis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Christodoulakos
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Panoulis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Creatsas
mesh_terms: D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone