ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether maternal serum highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) could be use as a marker of prediction of tocolytic success in preterm labor pregnancy, and was more useful in comparison with other inflammatory factors. METHODS: Maternal serum white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP), and hsCRP were determined in 87 patients in preterm labor and 68 controls. Preterm labor group was divided into tocolytic success group (n=44) and failure group (n=43). The levels of maternal serum WBC count, CRP, and hsCRP were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) to evaluate the relative value as prediction marker of tocolytic success in two preterm labor groups. The data were analyzed using student t-test. RESULTS: There was no significant difference for maternal age, body mass index (BMI), gestational age, and parity between normal group and preterm labor group. But, WBC count and hsCRP were significantly higher in preterm labor group in comparison to normal group (p<0.001). In preterm labor group, there was no significant difference in maternal age, BMI, gestational age, and parity between tocolytic success group and failure group. But, WBC count, CRP, and hsCRP were significantly lower in tocolytic success group. In the prediction of tocolytic success, the AUCs of WBC count, CRP, and hsCRP were 0.65, 0.77, and 0.82, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study showed that serum levels of hsCRP may be used as a marker of prediction of tocolytic success in preterm labor pregnancy.