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Updated: Mar 31, 2026
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
CRH as a Predictor of Preterm Birth in Minority Women
R Jeanne Ruiz1, Susan Gennaro2, Caitlin O'Connor2
1Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Nursing, Bryan, TX, USA roberta.ruiz@tamhsc.edu.
Objective:
To determine the predictive capability of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) as a biomarker of preterm birth (PTB) in minority women.
Study Design:
Venous blood samples were obtained at 22-24 weeks' gestation in a prospective, descriptive study of 707 minority women experiencing low-risk pregnancies. CRH was analyzed using a radioimmunoassay and methanol extraction protocol.
Result:
CRH predicted PTB in both African American and Hispanic women. The odds ratio was 1.8 times greater for having a PTB if the CRH level was >24 pg/ml. The median CRH for African American women having a PTB was 46.6 pg/ml and for Hispanic women was 35.03 pg/ml. Using a receiver-operating characteristic curve, the threshold for CRH among the African American women was 30.6 pg/ml and among the Hispanic women was 27.4 pg/ml.
Conclusion:
CRH may be an important biomarker for predicting PTB in minority women, especially when combined with other predictors.
