Potential Biochemical Markers for Preterm Labor: A Pilot Study in North India

Abstract

Preterm delivery is a major contributor for neonatal mortality. Intensive research is underway to establish a reliable biomarker that can ascertain the risk of preterm delivery in pregnant women. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of various biochemical parameters as potential biomarker for risk assessment for preterm labor. Forty women presenting with preterm labor and 40 women who delivered at term were included in the study. Parameters that were evaluated include corticotrophin (ACTH), prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), ferritin and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP). Serum ACTH, ferritin, ALP and Ferritin/Iron ratio were significantly higher in the subjects who delivered prematurely as compared to the controls. Comparison of sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio, positive and negative predictive values for different cut offs for ACTH, ferritin, ALP and ferritin/iron ratio was carried out. Ferritin emerged as the best marker with area under curve of 0.96 as compared to 0.88 for ACTH, 0.825 for ALP and 0.735 for ferritin/iron ratio. Our study establishes the superiority of ferritin as a predictive biomarker for preterm labor as compared to the rest of the parameters evaluated.

Ferritina sérica en el segundo trimestre para predicción de parto pretérmino

“…Diferentes autores han demostrado resultados similares a los hallazgos de la presente investigación y algunos de ellos han establecido el posible papel de esta en la predicción del parto pretérmino (Weintraub et al, 2005;Singh et al, 2011;Beta et al, 2012;Movahedi et al, 2012). La mayoría de esos estudios han indicado una asociación entre la ferritina sérica y el parto pretérmino.…”

The diagnostic value of cervicovaginal and serum ferritin levels in midgestation time to predict spontaneous preterm delivery

“…The serum ferritin level had a moderate to good diagnostic value. Several studies have investigated an association between serum ferritin and preterm delivery, some assessing a possible role for it in predicting preterm delivery 910111213141516192021. Mostly, these studies have been indicative of an association between serum ferritin and preterm delivery.…”

“…Singh et al .,15 in their study enrolled 40 women with preterm labor and 40 women who delivered at term. They compared several parameters including adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH), prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), ferritin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).…”

Perinatal Brain Injury As a Consequence of Preterm Birth and Intrauterine Inflammation: Designing Targeted Stem Cell Therapies

“…The survival of very preterm infants (28–32 weeks gestation) and extremely preterm infants (<28 weeks gestation) has improved over the past several decades (Miyazaki et al, 2007; Tita and Andrews, 2010), however prematurity still accounts for up to 70% of perinatal deaths and, in survivors, adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, and cerebral palsy (CP; Singh et al, 2011). After birth there are no clinical treatments to protect or repair the brain of preterm infants.…”