Activin A as a marker of intrauterine infection in women with preterm prelabour rupture of membranes.
OBJECTIVE
To assess maternal serum activin A, an early phase response protein in systemic infection, as an early marker of intrauterine infection in women with preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM).


METHODS
A prospective cohort study of women with singleton pregnancies complicated by PPROM at 24 to 34 weeks' gestation. Serum was collected for activin A and cytokine measurements. Activin A was measured using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cytokines were measured using commercial multiplex assay. Pregnancy outcomes including infection were determined by case-record review.


RESULTS
Eighteen women with PPROM were studied, with seven developing intrauterine infection. Serum activin A in women with and without infection did not differ. Peripheral white cell count, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 were higher (P=0.03, 0.05 and 0.009, respectively) and IL-7 lower (P=0.04) 72 h before delivery in women with infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Activin A is not a clinically useful marker of intrauterine infection in women with PPROM.
Hodges
R
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Centre for Women's Health Research, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia. Ryan.Hodges@med.monash.edu.au
Salvador
L
L
D'Antona
D
D
Georgiou
H M
HM
Wallace
E M
EM
D028341:Activins / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers; C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins