Early prediction of spontaneous preterm birth before 34 gestational weeks based on a combination of inflammation-associated plasma proteins

• Published in: Frontiers in immunology 2024, Vol.15, p.1415016
• Main Authors: Svenvik, Maria, Raffetseder, Johanna, Brudin, Lars, Berg, Göran, Hellberg, Sandra, Blomberg, Marie, Jenmalm, Maria C, Ernerudh, Jan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biomarkers - blood; Blood Proteins - analysis; Case-Control Studies; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; Immunology; inflammation; Inflammation - blood; Inflammation - diagnosis; plasma proteins; prediction model; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, First - blood; Premature Birth - blood; Premature Birth - diagnosis; preterm birth; Prospective Studies; proximity extension assay
• ISSN: 1664-3224; 1664-3224
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1415016

In order to identify and possibly offer prophylactic treatment to women at risk for preterm birth (PTB), novel prediction models for PTB are needed. Our objective was to utilize high-sensitive plasma protein profiling to investigate whether early prediction of spontaneous PTB (sPTB) before 34 gestational weeks (gw) was possible in a low-risk population. A case-control study was conducted on 46 women with sPTB before 34 gw and 46 women with normal pregnancies and term deliveries. Prospectively collected plasma sampled at gw 11 (range 7-16) and gw 25 (range 23-30) was analyzed with a high-sensitivity Proximity Extension Assay for levels of 177 inflammation-associated proteins, and statistically processed with multivariate logistic regression analysis. In the first trimester, higher levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were associated with sPTB