title: Biomarkers of spontaneous preterm birth: a systematic review of studies using multiplex analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite decades of research on risk indicators of spontaneous preterm birth (PTB), reliable biomarkers are still not available to screen or diagnose high-risk pregnancies. Several biomarkers in maternal and fetal compartments have been mechanistically linked to PTB, but none of them are reliable predictors of pregnancy outcome. This systematic review was conducted to synthesize the knowledge on PTB biomarkers identified using multiplex analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science) were searched for studies in any language reporting the use of multiplex assays for maternal biomarkers associated with PTB published from January 2005 to March 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Retrieved citations (3631) were screened, and relevant studies (33) were selected for full-text reading. Ten studies were included in the review. Forty-two PTB-related proteins were reported, and RANTES and IL-10 (three studies) followed by MIP-1β, GM-CSF, Eotaxin, and TNF-RI (two studies) were reported more than once in maternal serum. However, results could not be combined due to heterogeneity in type of sample, study population, assay, and analysis methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By this systematic review, we conclude that multiplex assays are a potential technological advancement for identifying biomarkers of PTB, although no single or combination of biomarkers could be identified to predict PTB risk.
authors: Jossimara
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6719-8715
authors: J
authors: Polettini
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Cobo
authors: Marian
authors: M
authors: Kacerovsky
authors: Angela E
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2432-2616
authors: AE
authors: Vinturache
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Laudanski
authors: Myrthe J C S
authors: MJ
authors: Peelen
authors: Hanns
authors: H
authors: Helmer
authors: Ronald F
authors: RF
authors: Lamont
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Takeda
authors: Jerome
authors: J
authors: Lapointe
authors: Maria Regina
authors: MR
authors: Torloni
authors: Nanbert
authors: N
authors: Zhong
authors: Ramkumar
authors: R
authors: Menon
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers