COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF 3 VAGINAL MARKERS OF THE PREMATURE RUPTURE OF MEMBRANES - INSULIN-LIKE-GROWTH-FACTOR BINDING-PROTEIN-1 DIAMINE-OXIDASEPH

Objective. To assess the diagnostic value of three vaginal markers - i nsulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (=IGFBP(1)), diamine-oxida se (=DAO) and pH - for diagnosis of the premature rupture of membranes . Study. One hundred pregnant women participated in the study, They we re divided into three groups: group A (34 cases with intact membranes) , group B (35 cases with total rupture of the membranes), group C (31 cases of suspected rupture of the membranes). Each patient underwent t hree successive tests for each, of the three markers. The test order w as allocated at random. For pH the reaction is colorimetric, for DAO t he reaction is radio-enzymatic and for IGFBP(1) the reaction is immuno -chromatographic. All three reactions are qualitative in nature. The p arameters studied were conventional statistical parameters (sensitivit y=SN, specificity=SP, positive predictive value=PPV and negative predi ctive value=NPV). Results. The analysis of the statistics gave the fol lowing results in percentages for SN, SP, PPV and NPV respectively: pH : 90.7%, 77.2%, 75%, 91.7%. DAO: 83.7%, 100%, 100%, 89%. IGFBP(1): 95. 3%, 98.2%, 97.6%, 96.5%. Conclusion. The determination of variations i n pH is not satisfactory. IGFBP(1) is at least better than DAO with, a dditionally, advantages of rapidity and simplicity.