title: A new and practical aspartate aminotransferase test in vaginal washing fluid for the detection of preterm premature rupture of membranes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether measurement of aspartate aminotransferase (Ast) and alanine aminotransferase (Alt) levels in vaginal fluid is useful for the diagnosis of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).
  
  
  METHODS
  The PPROM group and normal pregnancy group consisted of 36 and 48 pregnant patients between 26 and 36 weeks' gestation, respectively. Vaginal fluid Ast and Alt levels were measured in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vaginal fluid Alt level was not statistically significant in the PPROM group as compared with the control group (p = 0.064). Vaginal Ast level was statistically significant in the PPROM (14.4 +/- 17.46 U/l) group as compared with the control group (3.08 +/- 7.8 U/l; p = 0.001). The optimal cutoff value of 3 IU/l for Ast gave a sensitivity level of 91% at a specificity of 83%, with positive and negative predictive values of 80 and 93%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ast measurement from vaginal washing fluid appears to be a useful marker for the detection of PPROM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey. drakale@dicle.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kale
authors.forename: Umur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kuyumcuoğlu
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kale
authors.forename: Ali Irfan
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Güzel
authors.forename: Naime
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Canoruc
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014621:Vagina; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase