Inflammatory biomarkers and spontaneous preterm birth among obese women

Abstract

Objective To identify associations between second-trimester serum inflammatory biomarkers and preterm birth among obese women. Methods In this nested case-control study, we compared 65 serum inflammatory biomarkers in obese women whose pregnancies resulted in early spontaneous preterm birth (< 32 weeks gestation, n=34) to obese women whose pregnancies resulted in term birth (n=34). These women were selected from a larger population-based California cohort. Random forest and classification and regression tree techniques were employed to identify biomarkers of importance, and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression. Results Random forest and classification and regression tree techniques found that soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (sVEGFR3), soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha-chain (sIL-2RA), and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNFR1) were related to preterm birth. Using multivariable logistic regression to compare preterm cases and term controls, decreased serum levels of sVEGFR3 and increased serum levels of sIL-2RA and sTNFR1 were associated with increased risk of preterm birth among obese women, aOR 3.2 (95% CI 1.0–9.9), aOR 2.8 (95% CI 0.9–9.0), and aOR 4.1 (95% CI 1.2 – 14.1), respectively. Conclusions In this pilot study, we identified three serum biomarkers indicative of inflammation to be associated with spontaneous preterm birth among obese women: sVEGFR3, sIL-2RA, and sTNFR1.

Elevated body mass index during pregnancy and gestational weight gain in HIV‐infected and HIV‐uninfected women in Cape Town, South Africa: association with adverse birth outcomes

“…Consistent with our findings, although not consistently significant, others have reported an increased risk of provider‐initiated PTD in obese women and increased risk of spontaneous PTD in women with high GWG [15,45]. The mechanisms mediating both types of PTD in women with high BMI are similar to those reported in HIV‐infected women using ART – hypertension and diabetes for provider‐initiated PTD and elevated inflammatory markers which mediate premature myometrial contractility, cervical dilatation and rupture of amniotic membranes for spontaneous PTD [46,47]. Although both term and PTD infants born to women with high BMI are pre‐disposed to childhood obesity and cardiovascular diseases later in life [48], PTD infants are prone to additional developmental challenges including recurrent hospitalisations and neurodevelopmental challenges associated with impaired organ function [33,49,50].…”

Epigenetic Biomarkers of Preterm Birth and Its Risk Factors

“…Although few studies have examined maternal blood for PTB-related epigenetic biomarkers, there are numerous studies examining the utility of other types of biomarkers in maternal serum such as cytokines and other metabolites [ 37 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ]. One of the most widely reported serum biomarkers, alpha-fetoprotein, is currently used in prenatal screening and has been associated with increased risk of pregnancy complications, including PTB, as early as the second trimester [ 48 , 52 , 53 ].…”

Serum Health Biomarkers in African and Asian Elephants: Value Ranges and Clinical Values Indicative of the Immune Response

“…Serum biomarkers indicative of immune function are important health assessment tools in human medicine [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ] and studies of laboratory and domesticated animal species [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Measurements of acute-phase proteins (APPs) and cytokines aid in detecting pathologies, understanding disease processes and susceptibility, monitoring disease progression, and assessing the efficacy of treatments.…”