European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: CRP measurement is quick, non-invasive, and risk-free that can be a
useful diagnostic test for evaluating and categorizing the risk levels and also
anticipating the morbidity of both mother and fetus.
Aims: To identify the association between the level of C-Reactive protein (CRP) with
preterm deliveries.
Materials and methods: It is Hospital based Prospective Observational study done for a
period of 2 Years in 95 pregnant women with gestational age between 24 weeks to 36
weeks+6days, who present to emergency /labor room with regular uterine contractions,
at least four in 20 minutes or eight in 60 minutes in presence or absence of cervical
changes.Patients were then followed up till 7 days for preterm delivery. Further
categorization of subjects was done into 2 groups:Group 1: Those who delivered
preterm within 7 days of admission.Group 2: Those who did not deliver within 7 days of
admission.
Results: 95 patients with premature uterine contractions were analysed for CRP levels
and were followed up to find out if they underwent preterm delivery within 7 days of
admission. The mean value of CRP was calculated in the 2 groups and was found to be
higher in those who delivered within 7 days with a statistically significant p value 0.001.
The curve generated cut off for CRP was ≥3.55 mg/l (AUC 0.809, SE 0.046, P <0.001),
indicating a positive association for preterm delivery. With the derived cut off, the
sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of CRP for
predicting preterm delivery was found to be 80.4 %, 75.5%, 80.7% and 75.2%
respectively, with diagnostic accuracy of78.3%.
Conclusions: Prediction of preterm delivery by a simple biomarker like CRP could help
in early intervention and subsequentprevention of preterm birth and its sequelae.