title: Serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the prediction of preterm delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Macrophage migration inhibitory factor is a soluble mediator that helps govern the interaction between cytokines and stress hormones (eg, cortisol). We determined whether maternal macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels predicted subsequent preterm delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nested case-control study measuring serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor concentration at 9-23 weeks' gestation in women who ultimately delivered preterm (n = 60) compared with control women who delivered at term (n = 122). We also examined the connection of macrophage migration inhibitory factor with self-reported psychosocial variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Macrophage migration inhibitory factor was elevated in the preterm delivery cases (P = .0004), and log macrophage migration inhibitory factor concentration showed a graded response relationship with likelihood of preterm delivery. High-macrophage migration inhibitory factor was also associated with maternal risk-taking behavior, which itself was a risk factor for preterm delivery. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor remained associated independently with preterm delivery after adjusting regression models for several other preterm delivery risk factors (odds ratio, 3.11, 95% confidence interval, 1.54-6.30).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-serum macrophage migration inhibitory concentration in early to midpregnancy is linked with subsequent preterm delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA. bpearce@emory.edu
authors.forename: Brad D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Sicily E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Garvin
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grove
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bonney
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Dudley
authors.forename: Diana E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Schendel
authors.forename: Poul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thorsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000097:blood*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors