Maternal Serum Amyloid A Levels in Pregnancies Complicated with Preterm Labour

Abstract

SUMMARY P reterm birth, defined as childbirth occurring at less than 37 completed weeks or 259 days of gestation, is a major determinant of neonatal mortality and morbidity and has long-term adverse consequences for health (Huddy et al., 2001). Estimation of preterm birth rates and ideally, their proper categorization (e.g. spontaneous versus indicated) are essential for accurate determination of global incidence in order to inform policy and programmes on interventions to reduce the risk of premature labour and delivery (Pannel et al., 2007). Preterm labour is the single most important complication of pregnancy in the absence of congenital abnormality, as it is recognized as a worldwide problem responsible for more than 80% of neonatal deaths and more than 50% of long-term morbidity in the surviving infants (Goldenberg et al., 2008). That is why early identification is essential to allow for the earliest intervention possible. Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a cytokine-inducible inflammatory acute-phase reactant whose plasma concentrations can exceed 1 mg/l during an acute-phase response. It is also associated with inflammatory response highly similar to erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein.