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Maternal serum corticotropin‐releasing hormone and ACTH levels as predictive markers of premature labor
Author(s) -
Makrigiannakis A.,
Semmler M.,
Briese V.,
Eckerle H.,
Minas V.,
Mylonas I.,
Friese K.,
Jeschke U.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2007.01.007
Subject(s) - medicine , preterm labor , corticotropin releasing hormone , hormone , gestation , predictive value , adrenocorticotropic hormone , premature labor , endocrinology , plasma levels , peripheral , obstetrics , pregnancy , genetics , biology
Objective : To investigate whether corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) and corticotropin (ACTH) plasma concentrations in women diagnosed with preterm labor are of potential clinical value in the assessment of the risk of preterm birth. Method : Plasma samples of 79 women diagnosed with preterm labor were used in this study. Samples were divided into three groups based on the week of gestation (24th–28th, 29th–32nd, 33rd–37th). CRH and ACTH values were determined by ELISA. Result : Mean maternal peripheral plasma values of CRH and ACTH were significantly higher ( p < 0.001) in women who were initially diagnosed with preterm labor and finally delivered a preterm birth, compared to women with the same diagnosis but with term birth. Conclusion : CRH and ACTH serum levels in women diagnosed with preterm labor could be used as predictors for the timing of parturition.