Abstract
Objective
To assess post-partum inflammation for patients delivering prior to 34 6/7 weeks by birth etiology.
Methods
This was an observational study of early preterm birth (PTB) occurring between 20 0/7 and 34 6/7 weeks of gestation. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured 1 month post-partum. CRP measurements were compared by birth etiology.
Results
A total of 399 women were analyzed. Distribution of birth etiology was 35% (n = 138) preterm labor (PTL), 28% (n = 115) preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM), and 37% (n = 141) indicated preterm birth (IPTB). Serum CRP varied by birth etiology (P = 0.036). Women with pPROM had elevated median CRP levels compared to women with PTL (P = 0.037). IPTB demonstrated elevated CRP levels when compared to PTL (P = 0.019). Pre-eclamptic/eclamptic subjects exhibited increased median CRP levels compared to PTL (P = 0.04).
Conclusion
Post-partum inflammation varies by birth etiology. Such variation may serve as identification of subjects whose future pregnancies and, ultimately, overall health status may benefit from inter-pregnancy interventions aimed at reducing inflammatory-associated risk factors.
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: Foundation for the National Institutes of Health; Funder Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000009, NIMH 1R03MH074750-01. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health; Funder Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000025, NIH/NIMH 1 K23-HD-04891501A2. Pennsylvania Department of Health; Funder Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100004897, ME 410002073.
Employment or leadership: None declared.
Honorarium: None declared.
Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.
Disclosure statement: All of the authors state that they have no financial interests that would be viewed as a potential conflict of interest. Moreover, we report that the data contained in this study has not been presented in any other published manuscript.
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