Abstract | OBJECTIVE: STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study included 486 patients in the following groups: 1) women in the mid-trimester of pregnancy (14-18 weeks) who underwent amniocentesis for genetic indications and delivered a normal neonate at term (n=52); 2) normal pregnant women at term with (n=48) and without (n=45) spontaneous labor; 3) patients with an episode of spontaneous preterm labor (PTL) and intact membranes who were classified into: a) PTL without IAI who delivered at term (n=152); b) PTL without IAI who delivered preterm (<37 weeks gestation; n=107); and c) PTL with IAI (n=82). Ang-2 concentration in AF was determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Non-parametric statistics were used for analysis. RESULTS: 1) Ang-2 was detected in all AF samples; 2) the median AF Ang-2 concentration at term was significantly lower than that in the mid-trimester (1877.4 pg/mL vs. 3525.2 pg/mL; P<0.001); 3) among patients with PTL, the median AF Ang-2 concentration was significantly higher in patients with IAI than in those without IAI (4031.3 pg/mL vs. 2599.4 pg/mL; P<0.001) and those with PTL without IAI who delivered at term (4031.3 pg/mL vs. 2707.3 pg/mL; P<0.001); and 4) no significant differences were observed in the median AF Ang-2 concentration between patients with spontaneous labor at term and those at term not in labor (1722.9 pg/mL vs. 1877.4 pg/mL; P=0.6). CONCLUSIONS: 1) Ang-2, a protein involved in the process of vascular remodeling, is a physiologic constituent of the amniotic fluid and its concentration decreased with advancing gestation; 2) the median Ang-2 concentration in amniotic fluid is higher in patients with IAI than in those without; and 3) spontaneous parturition at term is not associated with changes in the AF concentration of Ang-2. These findings support the view of a link between angiopoietins and inflammation.
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Authors | Percy Pacora, Roberto Romero, Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa, Juan Pedro Kusanovic, Offer Erez, Edi Vaisbuch, Shali Mazaki-Tovi, Francesca Gotsch, Chong Jai Kim, Nandor Gabor Than, Lami Yeo, Pooja Mittal, Sonia S Hassan |
Journal | Journal of perinatal medicine
(J Perinat Med)
Vol. 37
Issue 5
Pg. 503-11
( 2009)
ISSN: 1619-3997 [Electronic] Germany |
PMID | 19435449
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural)
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Chemical References |
- Angiopoietin-2
- IL6 protein, human
- Interleukin-6
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Topics |
- Adult
- Amniotic Fluid
(metabolism)
- Angiopoietin-2
(metabolism)
- Chorioamnionitis
(metabolism)
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Female
- Gestational Age
- Humans
- Infant, Newborn
- Inflammation
(etiology, metabolism)
- Interleukin-6
(metabolism)
- Labor, Obstetric
(metabolism)
- Neovascularization, Physiologic
- Obstetric Labor, Premature
(metabolism)
- Parturition
(metabolism)
- Pregnancy
- Young Adult
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