Abstract
Purpose
Intrauterine inflammation (IUI) is a leading cause of preterm delivery. Although matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) are known to be related with IUI, it has not been fully elucidated whether MMP-9 or ICAM-3 is associated with IUI. We performed this study to determine whether the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), MMP-9 and ICAM-3 in umbilical cord blood of preterm infants are associated with chorioamnionitis, funisitis or bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Methods
Eighty-two pairs of pregnant women and their preterm newborns <35 weeks gestation were enrolled. Levels of TNF-α, MMP-9 and ICAM-3 in umbilical cord blood were measured using immunoassays and compared with results of histological examination of placenta and clinical data of the study participants. Results: The level of MMP-9 in umbilical cord blood was significantly associated with the presence of funisitis (P=0.007). The level of TNF-α in umbilical cord blood was significantly associated with the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P=0.030). However, presence of chorioamnionitis or funisitis was not associated with development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. With the establishment of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the best cut-off value for umbilical blood MMP-9 was 99.42 pg/mL in identification of funisitis. The area under a constructed ROC curve for prediction of funisitis was 0.847 (standard error, 0.112; 95% confidence interval, 0.750–0.917).
Conclusion
Measurement of MMP-9 concentration in umbilical cord blood may be an alternative way to predict whether a preterm infant has been exposed to IUI. Further study with larger numbers of subjects will be necessary to elucidate the association between the presence of IUI and neonatal adverse outcome.
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