Relationship between Maternal Serum Biomarkers (HCG, AFP, UE3, and Inhibin A) in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy and Preterm Labor

Aims: Preterm labor (PTL) is one of the most important medical community problems and the main cause of infant morbidity and mortality after congenital anomalies. Several studies have shown a significant association between the abnormal levels of quadruple test with PTL. However, there is no general agreement on the value of quadruple tests for predicting complications among studies. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of maternal serum biochemical markers (HCG, AFP, UE3, and Inhibin A) in the second trimester of pregnancy and their effect on PTL. Methods & Methods: This longitudinal study was performed on 240 pregnant women who underwent quad-marker testing in the second trimester of pregnancy in Yasuj in 2019. Pregnancy and labor information was followed up and recorded in a checklist. Also, ROC (Receiver Operative Characteristics) was used to determine the test efficiency in PTL and the optimum point with the highest sensitivity and specificity. All analyses were performed using SPSS 22 software. Findings: 19 pregnant mothers (7.9%) had PTL. The best amount of AFP to detect PTL with a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 68% was estimated at 1.515. The best values of Inhibin A and HCG were also estimated at 1.245 and 0.885, respectively. Conclusion: Of the quadruple tests, three AFP tests, HCG and inhibin, effectively diagnose PTL during pregnancy.