CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING FACTOR AND ITS BINDING-PROTEIN - MATERNAL SERUM LEVELS IN TERM AND PRETERM DELIVERIES

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this investigation was to evaluate whether maternal serum corticotropin-releasing factor levels during p regnancy were predictive of spontaneous preterm delivery. STUDY DESIGN : Maternal serum levels of corticotropin-releasing factor and its bind ing protein were measured from 20 weeks of gestation in a cross-sectio nal study of 396 asymptomatic women at high risk for preterm delivery. RESULTS: Gestational age-specific corticotropin-releasing factor leve ls were not consistently or substantially increased for preterm compar ed with term deliveries, whether preterm delivery was due to preterm l abor or preterm premature rupture of membranes. The binding protein fo r corticotropin-releasing factor did not vary according to gestational age until term, when it dropped substantially CONCLUSION: Serum corti cotropin-releasing factor levels do not appear to be an important pred ictor of preterm birth in asymptomatic patients who subsequently have either preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes. Nevert heless, the drop in the corticotropin-releasing factor binding protein level at term suggests that the bioavailability of corticotropin-rele asing factor increases as parturition approaches.