Preterm Labor
Conditions
Keywords
preterm labor, osteopontin
Brief summary
Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) is defined as the rupture of the fetal membranes prior to the onset of labor and before 37 weeks of gestation; it occurs in approximately 2-3% of all pregnancies and accounts for a significant proportion of preterm births . Current data indicate that PPROM is not merely a clinical condition limited to membrane rupture; rather, it is a biological process associated with loss of structural integrity in the fetal membranes, an inflammatory-oxidative stress response, and cellular aging . The fetal membranes constitute a dynamic barrier that provides mechanical and immunological protection for the fetus throughout pregnancy . There is limited data in the literature investigating the relationship between osteopontin and preterm birth. In particular, it has been reported that osteopontin levels may be higher in amniotic fluid samples collected during the second trimester from pregnant women who subsequently experienced spontaneous preterm birth . However, the changes in maternal serum osteopontin levels in cases of PPROM and the clinical significance of these changes remain unclear. Therefore, osteopontin levels may vary across different biological compartments and at different stages of pregnancy. To address this knowledge gap, the present study aimed to compare maternal serum osteopontin levels between pregnant women diagnosed with PPROM and those with term membrane rupture.
Detailed description
This study was designed as a single-center, prospective, observational case-control study. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Social and Humanities, Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Health Sciences at Batman University (Decision No: 2026/04-09; Date: 02.04.2026). Work began after the ethics committee approved the study. The research was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants.
Interventions
DIAGNOSTIC_TESTSERUM OSTEOPONTİN
At the time of diagnosis, 5 mL venous blood samples were collected from all participants for biochemical analysis. The samples were centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 10 minutes to separate the serum, which was then stored at -80°C until analysis. Serum osteopontin levels were measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (Human Osteopontin ELISA Kit, Cat. No: E1525Hu, BT Laboratory, China) in accordance with the manufacturer's protocol. This kit has been developed for the quantitative determination of osteopontin levels in serum, plasma, and other biological fluids. The assay principle is based on the pre-coating of microplate wells with an antibody specific to human SPP1. The osteopontin present in the samples was incubated with a biotinylated secondary antibody and a streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) complex after binding to this antibody. Following the washing steps, a substrate solution was added, and the resulting color reaction was stopped with an ac
Sponsors
Batman Training and Research Hospital
Batman University
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* For the case group (PPROM): * Gestational age between 24+0 and 36+6 weeks * Singleton pregnancy * Age ≥18 years * Provision of written informed consent * Confirmed diagnosis of PPROM by clinical and/or ancillary tests * For the control group (term rupture of membranes): * Gestational age ≥37+0 weeks * Rupture of membranes * No signs of active infection * Singleton pregnancy * Age ≥18 years * Provision of written informed consent * No history of additional systemic diseases
Exclusion criteria
(for both groups): * Multiple pregnancy * Major fetal anomaly * Fetal distress * Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) * Clinical chorioamnionitis * Systemic infection * Autoimmune or chronic inflammatory disease * Smoking * History of malignancy * Gestational trophoblastic disease * Diabetes mellitus * Preeclampsia * Other serious obstetric complications
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Maternal Serum Osteopontin Concentration | 48 hours | Description: Concentration of osteopontin (ng/mL) measured in maternal serum using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (e.g., Human Osteopontin ELISA Kit, manufacturer name and catalog number to be specified). Blood samples are collected at the time of diagnosis of PPROM or term membrane rupture, within 48 hours before delivery. Unit of Measure: ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter) Time Frame: 48 hours (from diagnosis to sample collection) Reporting Metric: Mean osteopontin concentration (with standard deviation) will be reported for each group (PPROM and term membrane rupture). Between-group comparison will be performed using an appropriate statistical test (e.g., independent t-test or Mann-Whitney U test). |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed