Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research

Aim: To assess the accuracy of combined maternal serum interleukin and maternal salivary estriol levels in prediction of preterm labor in Egyptian pregnant females.
Study Design: Case control study.
Place and Duration of Study: It was conducted in El-Shatby University Hospital of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Alexandria, Egypt between 1^st Jan to 30^th September in the year 2012.
Methodology: We included 80 pregnant females of gestational age 28-36 weeks (40 females with preterm labor and 40 pregnant not in labor). Both groups were matched for the women's age and the gestational age. A questionnaire was completed; abdominal and vaginal examinations were done. Maternal serum and saliva were collected for measuring the serum interleukin-8 and salivary estriol levels using ELISA technique.
Results: Using ROC curve analysis, the overall diagnostic accuracy of Salivary Estriol alone at cut off point 200 pg/ml in prediction of preterm labor was 58% (0.46-0.71). Sensitivity and specificity were 82.5% and 32.5% respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of combined Salivary Estriol and serum interleukin-8 in prediction of preterm labor was 68% (0.56-0.79). Sensitivity and specificity were 75%% and 60% respectively. Lastly, the maternal serum interleukin-8 had the following accuracy measures for prediction of preterm labor at cut off point 965 pg/ml. (Overall accuracy: 79% (0.69-0.89), sensitivity 92.5% and specificity 42.5%).
Conclusion: The maternal serum interleukin-8 is an effective and relatively non invasive and more accurate strategy for prediction of preterm labor at cut off point 965 pg/ml than salivary estriol. (Overall accuracy: 79%, sensitivity 92.5% and specificity 42.5%).