Back to Search Start Over

Preterm Birth: Associated Neuroendocrine, Medical, and Behavioral Risk Factors1

Authors :
Poul Thorsen
George P. Chrousos
Jay Schulkin
James A. McGregor
O. N. Khongsaly
Kristine Erickson
Dimitri E. Grigoriadis
Source :
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 86:2544-2552
Publication Year :
2001
Publisher :
The Endocrine Society, 2001.

Abstract

Increased CRH secretion by the placenta of pregnant women has been associated with preterm birth. Certain indices of risk, both medical and psychosocial in nature, have been linked to preterm delivery. Levels of total, bound, and free CRH, CRH-binding protein (CRH-BP), and cortisol were measured prospectively in a large sample of pregnant Danish women who delivered preterm and term infants. Measures of maternal serum hormones were taken at 7--23 and 27--37 weeks gestation and, for those who delivered at term, at 37--43 weeks gestation. At 7--23 weeks gestation, maternal levels of total CRH (P = 0.01), bound CRH (P = 0.03), and CRH-BP (P = 0.01) were higher in the preterm than in the term group. At 27--37 weeks gestation, levels of total CRH (P < 0.0001), bound CRH (P < 0.0001), free CRH (P < 0.0001), and cortisol (P < 0.0001) were all higher in the preterm than the term group, whereas levels of CRH-BP (P < 0.0001) were lower in the preterm than in the term group. The best medical and behavioral factors associated with preterm delivery were, respectively, previous preterm delivery (P < 0.0001) and engagement in certain risk-taking behaviors (P = 0.008). The positive relations between preterm delivery and various adverse medical and socioeconomic variables with increases in placental secretion of CRH suggest that the latter may participate in the pathophysiology of preterm delivery.

Details

ISSN :
19457197 and 0021972X
Volume :
86
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........33c5006ca73531a8a7485ea0fa99bc55
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.86.6.7607