[COMBINED APPLICATION OF FETAL FIBRONECTIN AND INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR IN PRETERM DELIVERY DIAGNOSIS--OUR RESULTS]

Area of Science:

• Reproductive endocrinology
• Maternal-fetal medicine
• Biochemistry

Context:

• Preterm birth is a significant global health concern.
• Accurate prediction of preterm delivery remains challenging.
• Biomarkers like IGFBP-1 and fFN are being investigated for early detection.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the diagnostic utility of IGFBP-1 and fFN in predicting preterm birth.
• To assess the correlation between positive biomarker tests and actual preterm delivery rates.
• To determine the average gestational age at delivery for fetuses identified as high-risk.

Summary:

• Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) and fetal fibronectin (fFN) were measured in 120 pregnant women.
• Positive results for IGFBP-1 (35.8%) and fFN (30%) were associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery.
• Despite tocolytic therapy, 12.5% of women in both positive groups delivered before 37 weeks, with an average gestational age of 32.5 ± 2.8 weeks.

Impact:

• These findings suggest IGFBP-1 and fFN can serve as valuable biochemical markers for identifying pregnancies at high risk for preterm birth.
• Early identification may facilitate timely interventions to improve neonatal outcomes.
• Further research can refine the use of these biomarkers in clinical practice for preterm birth prediction.