title: Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in human midpregnancy amniotic fluid and risk of preterm labor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This work stands as a pilot study in assessing the reliability of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as a marker for intraamiotic infection and preterm birth already in early pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  100 amniotic fluids taken at the Midwife Obstetrics and Gynaecological Clinic of the University of L'Aquila (Italy).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results show that MMP-9 is a sensitive marker of intraamionic infection (an important risk factor for preterm delivery) already in early pregnancy, because only women with a significant elevation were subsequently exposed to preterm birth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early identification of women at risk of preterm birth is of important clinical significance. Indeed exposing women to deep diagnostic and therapeutic protocols could possibly reduce the incidence of preterm birth in the near future and have a positive impact on fetal prognosis related to unknown intraamniotic infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Ferdinando
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Patacchiola
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Perilli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amicosante
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carta
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000821:virology; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012306:Risk; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9