Total matrix metalloproteinase-8 serum levels in patients labouring preterm and patients with threatened preterm delivery.

Abstract

Preterm labour and prematurity are still a main cause of perinatal morbidity nowadays. The aim of our study was to assess the role of MMP-8 as a predictive marker of preterm delivery. Four groups of patients were involved to the study: I -pregnant women at 24-34 weeks of gestation with any symptoms of threatened preterm labour; II -threatened preterm labour patients between 24-34 weeks of gestation; III -preterm vaginal delivery patients; IV -healthy term vaginal delivery patients. Serum concentration of total MMP-8 was measured using two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. There were no significant differences in the median concentrations of total MMP-8 between physiological pregnancy and threatened preterm labour patients with existing uterine contractility. No significant differences of total MMP-8 were either found between healthy term and preterm labouring patients. The studies on a larger population are needed to reject the hypothesis that preterm labour is connected with increased MMP-8 plasma concentrations of women in preterm labour and threatened preterm delivery.

Elastography and Metalloproteinases in Patients at High Risk of Preterm Labor

“…In our study, the group of patients was quite heterogeneous in terms of the cause of preterm labor, and yet in all patients, the concentration of this metalloproteinase was significantly increased in the cervical secretion. On the other hand, the concentration of metalloproteinases in the peripheral blood serum of this dissertation is consistent with the results obtained by other researchers and does not show significant differences between patients with a physiological pregnancy and patients with a risk of premature delivery [51]. In this study, the concentrations of MMP-9 in the blood serum and in the cervical secretion were assessed.…”