Todd P. Dezen, (914) 997-4608,
tdezen@marchofdimes.comElizabeth Lynch, (914) 997-4286,
elynch@marchofdimes.com
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., JULY 22, 2009 -- Could a simple saliva test help identify which pregnant women are likely to go into premature labor?
Researchers at University College London and King's College London report today in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology that in a study of 92 women at increased risk of premature labor (before 34 weeks gestation), those who delivered early had abnormally low levels of the hormone progesterone in their saliva. Their study suggests that monitoring progesterone levels in saliva could be a simple and inexpensive way to detect risk of preterm birth and which women might benefit from progesterone supplementation.
The study’s lead researcher, Professor Lucilla Poston, director of the Maternal and Fetal Research Unit at King's College London, told the BBC that a larger study is needed to validate her team’s findings. “This is an appropriate cautionary response, because many such studies look good in the pilot phase and are then shown not to be predictive when tested on a larger scale,” said Michael Katz, M.D., senior vice president for Research and Global Programs at the March of Dimes. “Of course, if the test is validated, it will be a very important finding in helping to prevent the serious consequences of preterm birth.”
Prematurity is the most common, serious and costly problem affecting American infants. More than 540,000 babies are born too soon each year in the United States and the prematurity rate has increased more than 20 percent since 1990. Babies who survive premature birth often suffer lifelong consequences, including learning disabilities, mental retardation or cognitive impairment, cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss, and other chronic conditions such as asthma.
The article, “Low saliva progesterone concentrations are associated with spontaneous early preterm labour (before 34 weeks of gestation) in women at increased risk of preterm delivery,” by G.C.L. Lachelin, L. Poston and colleagues, appears in the online version of the BJOG 2009; DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2009.02293.x.
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.
