title: Adrenomedullin concentration in second trimester amniotic fluid cannot be used as a predictor of preterm delivery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adrenomedullin, secreted by decidua and trophoblast cells, is considered to participate in regulating uterine and placental blood flow, leading to control of placental hormonal secretion. Furthermore, adrenomedullin has an antimicrobial activity. The objective of this study was to determine whether adrenomedullin concentrations in midtrimester amniotic fluid can be used as a predictor of preterm delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Amniotic fluid samples were collected in a retrospective cross-matched study that included 362 women with singleton pregnancies who presented for genetic amniocentesis. Adrenomedullin concentrations were determined by ELISA in amniotic fluid taken from women with spontaneous preterm delivery (n=41) and maternal age-matched controls who had normal pregnancy at term (n=41).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No difference was found in adrenomedullin concentrations between women with spontaneous preterm delivery (median: 1.33 ng/ml, range: 0.36-8.53 ng/ml) and controls (median: 1.32 ng/ml, range: 0.33-4.07 ng/ml), nor between a subset of cases of preterm premature rupture of membranes (n=19) and their controls (n=19).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adrenomedullin concentration in amniotic fluid cannot serve as a predictor of preterm delivery.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iavazzo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tassis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gourgiotis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boutsikou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baka
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hassiakos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hadjithomas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vrachnis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malamitsi-Puchner
mesh_terms: D053607:Adrenomedullin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D053607:Adrenomedullin