title: CRH as a Predictor of Preterm Birth in Minority Women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the predictive capability of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) as a biomarker of preterm birth (PTB) in minority women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Venous blood samples were obtained at 22-24 weeks' gestation in a prospective, descriptive study of 707 minority women experiencing low-risk pregnancies. CRH was analyzed using a radioimmunoassay and methanol extraction protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CRH predicted PTB in both African American and Hispanic women. The odds ratio was 1.8 times greater for having a PTB if the CRH level was >24 pg/ml. The median CRH for African American women having a PTB was 46.6 pg/ml and for Hispanic women was 35.03 pg/ml. Using a receiver-operating characteristic curve, the threshold for CRH among the African American women was 30.6 pg/ml and among the Hispanic women was 27.4 pg/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CRH may be an important biomarker for predicting PTB in minority women, especially when combined with other predictors.
authors.affiliation: Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Nursing, Bryan, TX, USA roberta.ruiz@tamhsc.edu.
authors.forename: R Jeanne
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gennaro
authors.affiliation: William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Nursing, Bryan, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dwivedi
authors.affiliation: Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gibeau
authors.affiliation: Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Tayra
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keshinover
authors.affiliation: Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Tia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Welsh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008913:Minority Groups; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
keywords: CRH; minorities; pregnancy; preterm birth