Usefulness of marking alkaline phosphatase and C-reactive protein in monitoring the risk of preterm delivery

BACKGROUND The purpose of this paper is to compare the effectiveness of use of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in marking and monitoring the risk of preterm delivery due to infection. MATERIAL/METHODS The study involved 83 patients assigned to groups: Group I (n=43) consisted of patients hospitalized for symptoms of preterm delivery, and Group II (control group n=40) consisted of patients controlled or hospitalized delivering on time without complications, whose pregnancy had a physiological course. All patients had a single marking of ALP and CRP levels in serum performed. RESULTS CRP levels were within the range 7 mg/l to 94 mg/l in the study group, and 4.83 mg/l to 90 mg/l in the control group. The level of ALP in the study group ranged from 139 u/l to 368 u/l and from 218 u/l to 321 u/l in the control group. In more than half of women (72.1%) from study group, CRP level exceeded 7 mg/l; in the control group, the CRP level exceeded 7 mg/l in 35% of cases. Significantly higher levels of CRP (above 20 mg/l) and ALP (above 300 u/l) were found in the 18 patients from the study group compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS Although an increase in the level of ALP in serum cannot be an absolute and sole marker of the risk of preterm delivery, it can be used in conjunction with a significantly elevated CRP level.