Maternal serum corticotropin-releasing hormone and ACTH levels as predictive markers of premature labor

Objective: To investigate whether corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and corticotropin (ACTH) plasma concentrations in women diagnosed with preterm tabor are of potential clinical value in the assessment of the risk of preterm birth. Method: Plasma samples of 79 women diagnosed with preterm tabor 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 tabor 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 tabor could be used as predictors for the timing of parturition. (C) 2007 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.