The proform of eosinophil major basic protein: a new maternal serum marker for adverse pregnancy outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the first trimester serum levels of the proform of eosinophil major basic protein (proMBP) in pregnancies with adverse outcome. Furthermore, to determine the screening performance using proMBP alone and in combination with other first trimester markers.


METHODS
A case-control study was conducted in a primary hospital setting. The proMBP concentration was measured in cases with small-for-gestational age (SGA) (n = 150), spontaneous preterm delivery (n = 88), preeclampsia (n = 40), gestational hypertension (n = 10) and in controls (n = 500). Concentrations were converted to multiples of the median (MoM) in controls and groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U-test. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine significant factors for predicting adverse pregnancy outcome. Screening performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves.


RESULTS
The proMBP median was significantly reduced in pregnancies with SGA (0.81 MoM), spontaneous preterm delivery (0.83 MoM), preeclampsia (0.88 MoM) and gestational hypertension (0.60 MoM). The best screening performance was found for preeclampsia including the covariates proMBP and nulliparity yielding an area under the curve equal to 0.737 (p < 0.0005) and a 75% detection rate for a 30% false positive rate.


CONCLUSIONS
The proMBP is a novel first trimester serum marker for adverse pregnancy outcome.
Pihl
Kasper
K
Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej5, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark. Kasper_Pihl@dadlnet.dk
Larsen
Torben
T
Rasmussen
Steen
S
Krebs
Lone
L
Christiansen
Michael
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D047093:Eosinophil Major Basic Protein; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011509:Proteoglycans; C074129:PRG2 protein, human; D047093:Eosinophil Major Basic Protein