Comparison of biochemical markers and cervical length for predicting preterm delivery.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the clinical utility of several prognostic factors for predicting preterm delivery.


METHODS
One hundred and nineteen patients with a singleton pregnancy admitted to our hospital because of symptoms of preterm labor were included in this study. Maternal serum C-reactive protein (CRP), transvaginal sonographic measurement of cervical length (CL), granulocyte elastase (EL) in cervical secretions, fetal fibronectin (fFN), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) in vaginal secretions were examined on admission. EL, fFN, AFP, and IGFBP-1 were measured by bed-side test kits. Correlation between each factor and the duration of pregnancy (from admission to delivery) was investigated.


RESULTS
A significant correlation was found between the duration of pregnancy and CRP (r= -0.37, P<0.001), but not CL. The duration was significantly shorter in the fFN-positive group than in the negative group (P=0.0015). However, no significant difference was observed between the positive group and the negative group for each of CL, EL, AFP and IGFBP-1.


CONCLUSIONS
Association between the duration of the pregnancy and two biochemical markers (CRP and fFN) was confirmed. As they can be examined quickly and easily, they are quite useful for estimating prognosis of preterm labor.
Department of Obstetrics, Center for Perinatal Medicine, Nagano Children's Hospital, Azumino, Nagano, Japan.
Sorahiro
S
Sunagawa
Kimiyo
K
Takagi
Kyoko
K
Ono
Keiko
K
Miyachi
Akihiko
A
Kikuchi
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers