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.