title: Can preterm labour be predicted in low risk pregnancies? Role of clinical, sonographic, and biochemical markers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This is a prospective nested cohort study conducted over a period of 3 years. 2644 women were recruited, out of which final analysis was done for 1884 women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cervicovaginal and blood samples were collected for all recruited women. Out of these, 137 women who delivered before 35 weeks were treated as cases and equal number of matched controls were chosen. Analysis of samples for serum G-CSF, AFP, ferritin, and cervicovaginal interleukin-6 and IGFBP-1 was done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Poor orodental hygiene, which can be a social marker, was significantly more common in women who delivered preterm (P = 0.008). Serum alkaline phosphatase and serum ferritin were found to be significantly associated with preterm deliveries. The 90th percentile value of these parameters was considered as cut-off as there is no specific cut-off.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study did not prove usefulness of any predictive marker. Serum ferritin and alkaline phosphatase were found to have correlation but their values are affected in many conditions and need to be elucidated with caution. Larger studies are needed for predicting preterm labour in asymptomatic women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi 110002, India.
authors.forename: Reva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi 110002, India.
authors.forename: Shakun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tyagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi 110002, India.
authors.forename: Nilanchali
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4141-8441
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi 110002, India.
authors.forename: Yedla Manikya
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Mala
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi 110002, India.
authors.forename: Chanchal
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3990-8481
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College, . New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Preena
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8319-5090
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhalla
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Maulana Azad Medical College, . New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Siddhartha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramji
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014621:Vagina / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C032231:IGFBP1 protein, human; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D005293:Ferritins; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase