The relationship between maternal serum level of alpha-fetoprotein in weeks 11 to 13 of pregnancy and preterm labor

Preterm labor is considered one of the major health concerns and seconds congenital anomalies for infant morbidity and mortality. So far, various methods have been used to predict preterm labor; one of these methods is to measure mother’s serum alpha-fetoprotein level. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein level in weeks 11 to 13 of pregnancy and preterm labor.
This nested case-control study was conducted with 105 pregnant women during their 11-13 gestation week presenting to Fatemieh Hospital in Hamedan for their routine prenatal care from 2013 to 2014. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein level was measured by Biomerieux standard kits through Vidas system in laboratory. Pregnancy outcomes were followed up after delivery and recorded in a checklist. The data were entered into SPSS/21 software and were analyzed using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square test. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein level at 11-13 weeks was significantly higher in pregnant women experiencing preterm labor than that in women with term pregnancy (P Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein level in 11-13 weeks of pregnancy can help predict preterm labor in pregnant women.