Total activin A in maternal blood as a marker of preterm delivery in low-risk asymptomatic patients

• Published in: Prenatal diagnosis 2006-03, Vol.26 (3), p.277-281
• Main Authors: Farina, Antonio, Lambert-Messerlian, Geralyn M., Canick, Jacob A., Banzola, Irina, Carletti, Angela, Concu, Manuela, Tempesta, Annalisa, Gabrielli, Sandro, Morano, Danila, Rizzo, Nicola
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activins - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Case-Control Studies; Female; Gestational Age; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Inhibin-beta Subunits - blood; Kaplan-Meier algorithm; Labor, Obstetric - blood; Management. Prenatal diagnosis; Medical sciences; Normal Distribution; Pregnancy - blood; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Premature Birth - blood; preterm delivery; Retrospective Studies; total activin A
• ISSN: 0197-3851; 1097-0223
• DOI: 10.1002/pd.1400

Objectives To retrospectively evaluate whether increased serum levels of total activin A (t‐activin A) are found in women who subsequently experience preterm delivery (PTD). Methods Data on maternal serum t‐activin A concentrations were available from a total of 84 singleton pregnant women and included 14 PTD pregnancies, each matched for gestational age and length of freezer storage, with 5 control pregnancies having term delivery (TD). Analyte values were expressed as multiple(s) of the control median. Results The median t‐activin A for controls and cases was 1.00 ± 0.45 and 1.27 ± 0.53 MoM, respectively. Univariate analysis of the MoM values was performed using the Kaplan‐Meier algorithm. Differences in the rate of delivery using a t‐activin A MoM cut‐off of ≥1 SD (equivalent to 1.26 MoM) were analysed using the log rank test. The cumulative rate of PTD (