title: A Systematic Review of DNA Methylation and Preterm Birth in African American Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The causes of many cases of preterm birth (PTB) remain enigmatic. Increased understanding of how epigenetic factors are associated with health outcomes has resulted in studies examining DNA methylation (DNAm) as a contributing factor to PTB. However, few studies on PTB and DNAm have included African American women, the group with the highest rate of PTB.
  
  
  METHODS
  The objective of this review was to systematically analyze the existing studies on DNAm and PTB among African American women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Studies ( N = 10) were limited by small sample size, cross-sectional study designs, inconsistent methodologies for epigenomic analysis, and evaluation of different tissue types across studies. African Americans comprised less than half of the sample in 50% of the studies reviewed. Despite these limitations, there is evidence for an association between DNAm patterns and PTB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future research on DNAm patterns and PTB should use longitudinal study designs, repeated DNAm testing, and a clinically relevant definition of PTB and should include large samples of high-risk African American women to better understand the mechanisms for PTB in this population.
authors.affiliation: 1 Yale School of Nursing, Orange, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barcelona de Mendoza
authors.affiliation: 1 Yale School of Nursing, Orange, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: 1 Yale School of Nursing, Orange, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Comfort
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agaba
authors.affiliation: 1 Yale School of Nursing, Orange, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prescott
authors.affiliation: 1 Yale School of Nursing, Orange, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desir
authors.affiliation: 2 Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.|3 Department of Psychology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Cindy A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Crusto
authors.affiliation: 4 Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Yan V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: 1 Yale School of Nursing, Orange, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Jacquelyn Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D057890:Epigenomics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk / Q000235:genetics*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: African Americans; DNA methylation; gestational age; pregnancy; preterm birth; race