PLASMA HIGH SENSITIVE C-REACTIVE PROTEIN IN EARLY PREGNANCY AS A MARKER OF PRETERM DELIVERY A CASE –CONTROL STUDY
Dr. Devyani Tiwari* and Dr. Sumitra Yadav
ABSTRACT
A nested case control study was carried out to evaluate the association of early pregnancy high sensitive C-reactive
protein (HsCRP), a marker of inflammation, with preterm delivery. Subjects were 92 women who delivered
preterm (<37 weeks’ gestation) and 92 controls (term deliveries) matched on age, race/ethnicity, height and weight.
High-sensitivity CRP assays which was measured by immunoturbidimetry assay and followed till delivery were
performed on early-pregnancy (< 21 weeks gestation) plasma samples. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals
were estimated by using conditional logistic regression adjusted for matching factors, gestational age at blood
collection, and pre pregnancy body mass index. Median concentration of CRP was 3.65 mg/liter in cases versus
2.76 mg/liter in controls. No significant association was found between quartiles of CRP and preterm delivery.
However, CRP levels >7 was significantly associated with the increased risk of preterm delivery (p <.0096;odds
ratio 6.11; 95% CI1.31-28.39) These findings suggest that very high CRP levels in early pregnancy are associated
with preterm delivery.
Keywords: ABBREVIATIONS: CI- confidence interval; hsCRP- high sensitive C-reactive protein; OR-odds ratio.
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