Amniotic fluid urocortin-1 concentrations for the prediction of preterm delivery

Aim The aim of this study was to analyze whether urocortin‐1 concentration in midtrimester amniotic fluid could serve as an indicative marker of preterm labor. Material and Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Urocortin‐1 concentrations in midtrimester amniotic fluid were measured in 22 pregnant women with preterm deliveries and 45 women who delivered at term using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Results The median amniotic fluid urocortin‐1 concentration was significantly lower in the women with preterm birth (40.06 pg/mL; range, 13.77–67.58 pg/mL) than in the women who gave birth at term (49.56 pg/mL; range, 26.25–175.9 pg/mL; P = 0.022). The result of receiver–operator curve analysis indicates that an amniotic fluid urocortin‐1 concentration ≤ 57.88 pg/mL had an area under the curve of 0.673 (95% confidence interval, 0.55–0.78; P = 0.01) with a sensitivity of 81.8%, specificity of 40.0%, positive predictive value of 40%, and a negative predictive value of 82% in identifying which of the patients subsequently delivered prematurely. Conclusions These results suggest that low urocortin‐1 concentration in midtrimester amniotic fluid could be used as an indicative marker of preterm birth.