Investigation of midtrimester amniotic fluid factors as potential predictors of term and preterm deliveries.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim is to investigate, in 13 cases (delivering preterm) and 21 matched (for age, parity, and gestational age) controls (delivering at term), whether midtrimester amniotic fluid concentrations of elastase, secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor (SLPI), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule predict asymptomatic intra-amniotic inflammation/infection and preterm labor.


RESULTS
Concentrations of all substances were not statistically different among mothers, delivering preterm or at term. SLPI concentrations significantly increased in women, going into labor without ruptured membranes, irrespective of pre- or term delivery (P < .007, P < .001, resp) and correlated with elastase (r = 0.508, P < .002).


CONCLUSIONS
Midtrimester amniotic fluid SLPI concentrations significantly decrease when membrane rupture precedes pre- or full-term labor. However, none of the investigated substances predict preterm delivery.
Malamitsi-Puchner
Ariadne
A
Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Vrachnis
Nikolaos
N
Samoli
Evi
E
Baka
Stavroula
S
Alexandrakis
George
G
Puchner
Karl-Philipp
KP
Iliodromiti
Zoe
Z
Hassiakos
Demetrios
D
D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000032:analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000378:metabolism*; D053481:Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor / Q000032:analysis; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis
D053481:Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase