Biomarkers of spontaneous preterm birth: a systematic review of studies using multiplex analysis

Abstract

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.

The cytokine network in women with an asymptomatic short cervix and the risk of preterm delivery

“…In the current study, the information obtained from network analysis is of value, because there is evidence that suggests that amniotic fluid MCP-1 (also known as CCL-2) and RANTES play a role in intra-amniotic inflammation/infection in patients with preterm labor, 132,156,205,206 preterm pre-labor rupture of the membranes, 132 a sonographic short cervix, 61,156 spontaneous labor at term, 207,208 and histological chorioamnionitis. 205 …”

The association between selected mid-trimester amniotic fluid candidate proteins and spontaneous preterm delivery

“…[56], in women expecting twins [57] and in women with symptoms of threatening PTD in the second and third trimester [28][29][30]. A few systematic reviews and meta-analyses of mid-trimester amniotic fluid protein levels in relation to spontaneous PTD have been performed [26,58,59]. The results of previous studies are conflicting, most likely due to dissimilarities in study design and diversities in study populations [26].…”

“…The results of previous studies are conflicting, most likely due to dissimilarities in study design and diversities in study populations [26]. Some of the previous studies have reported higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers in mid-trimester amniotic fluid in women with a subsequent spontaneous PTD [21,23,37,[40][41][42][43][47][48][49][50]53,54,58], whereas other studies did not find any significant differences [25,26,38,39,[44][45][46]51,52,55,59]. Our study design, definition of groups and gestational age at sampling were most similar to the research by Bamberg et al [38] and Puchner et al [51], who found lower, but not significantly lower, levels of selected inflammatory mediators in women with spontaneous PTD, compared with women delivering at term.…”

Cervical Evaluation

“…20 Hundreds of other bodily fluid biomarkers have been evaluated for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth, but a 2017 systematic review using multiplex analysis concluded that no one of these, or any combination, predicts spontaneous preterm birth. 52 Nor does the combination of an imaging and a biological biomarker; the AUC for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth with transvaginal ultrasound cervical length and fetal fibronectin in the nuMoM2b study was 0.67 (95% CI 0.64 – 0.70). 20 …”