Salivary estriol as risk assessment for preterm labor: a prospective trial

Article Abstract:

Higher than normal levels of the hormone estriol in saliva may indicate women at risk for preterm labor and delivery. Researchers obtained saliva samples from 241 pregnant women 22 weeks' pregnant and every week thereafter. Women who were delivered preterm had high salivary estriol levels from 24 to 34 weeks of pregnancy. An abrupt increase in estriol occurred three weeks before labor in both women delivering prematurely and women delivering at term. Elevated estriol levels greater than 2.3 nanograms per milliliter predicted preterm labor and delivery better than standard prediction methods. Estriol in the mother's blood is derived from fetal steroids, suggesting that the fetus partly determines when labor occurs.

Health aspects, Risk factors, Premature labor

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Accuracy of salivary estriol testing compared to traditional risk factor assessment in predicting preterm birth

Article Abstract:

Measuring estriol in a pregnant woman's saliva appears to be more accurate than the Creasy score. The Creasy score is used to determine whether a woman will deliver prematurely. Researchers compared this method with salivary estriol measurements in 601 pregnant women. Estriol is produced by the fetus, but crosses the placenta and can be found in the mother's blood, urine, and saliva. The level of estriol increases substantially three to five weeks before birth. If it happens before then, it is a potential sign of premature birth. Salivary estriol levels were more accurate in predicting premature birth than the Creasy score in this study.

Analysis, Forecasts and trends, Measurement, Saliva, Premature birth

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Serial betamethasone administration: effect on maternal salivary estriol levels

Article Abstract:

The corticosteroid drug betamethasone may have adverse effects on the fetus. This drug is often given to pregnant women at risk of premature birth to promote fetal maturity. Researchers measured the level of estriol in the saliva of 10 pregnant women at risk of premature birth who received weekly injections of betamethasone. Estriol is produced by the fetal adrenal gland. Betamethasone caused estriol levels to drop but they returned to normal before the next weekly dose. However, the normal rise in estriol levels before birth did not occur in these women.

Fetus, Physiological aspects, Betamethasone

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Fetal fibronectin as a market to predict the onset of term labor and delivery. Fetal fibronectin as a selection criterion for induction of term labor
• Abstracts: Early versus late amniotomy for labor induction: a randomized trial. Comparison between oral and intramuscular dexamethasone in suppressing unconjugated estriol levels during the third trimester

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