Preterm birth is no longer a matter of “sudden onset” for expectant mothers. Scientists have recently discovered a way to predict this phenomenon based on the CRP index – a marker indicating chronic mild inflammation.
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Expectant mothers need adequate rest to prevent preterm birth |
“CRP is considered a useful tool for predicting the likelihood of preterm birth,” stated Dr. Waranuch Pitiphat from Khon Kaen University in Thailand. Expectant mothers with high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) during the early weeks of pregnancy have a significantly higher risk.
Pitiphat and his American colleagues examined the CRP levels in the blood of 117 expectant mothers who gave birth before 37 weeks of gestation, compared to a group that delivered at full term. Blood samples were collected from the 5th to the 19th week of pregnancy. The results showed that the average CRP level in those who delivered preterm was 3.2 units, while in the full-term group, it was 2.4. Individuals with CRP levels of 8 units or higher had a risk 2.5 times greater. This relationship is completely independent of other factors related to preterm birth.
According to Pitiphat, the findings are not surprising, as “maternal inflammation often leads to preterm birth,” with CRP being a marker of this condition.
