Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2008 Jul;199(1):46.e1-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2007.11.066. Epub 2008 Feb 1.

Serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the prediction of preterm delivery

Brad D Pearce  1 , Sicily E Garvin, Jakob Grove, Elizabeth A Bonney, Donald J Dudley, Diana E Schendel, Poul Thorsen
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the prediction of preterm delivery

Brad D Pearce et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor is a soluble mediator that helps govern the interaction between cytokines and stress hormones (eg, cortisol). We determined whether maternal macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels predicted subsequent preterm delivery.

Study design: A nested case-control study measuring serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor concentration at 9-23 weeks' gestation in women who ultimately delivered preterm (n = 60) compared with control women who delivered at term (n = 122). We also examined the connection of macrophage migration inhibitory factor with self-reported psychosocial variables.

Results: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor was elevated in the preterm delivery cases (P = .0004), and log macrophage migration inhibitory factor concentration showed a graded response relationship with likelihood of preterm delivery. High-macrophage migration inhibitory factor was also associated with maternal risk-taking behavior, which itself was a risk factor for preterm delivery. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor remained associated independently with preterm delivery after adjusting regression models for several other preterm delivery risk factors (odds ratio, 3.11, 95% confidence interval, 1.54-6.30).

Conclusion: High-serum macrophage migration inhibitory concentration in early to midpregnancy is linked with subsequent preterm delivery.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Odds of PTD on a log scale against MIF in categories equidistant on the log scale, ticks indicate the center of each interval.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The area under the ROC curve for MIF (0.65, CI 0.57–0.74) was significantly greater than the reference area (0.5), solid line.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Wadhwa PD, Culhane JF, Rauh V, et al. Stress, infection and preterm birth: a bio behavioural perspective. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2001;15 Suppl 2:17–29. - PubMed
    1. Chrousos GP, Torpy DJ, Gold PW. Interactions between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the female reproductive system: clinical implications. Ann Intern Med. 1998;129:229–240. - PubMed
    1. Romero R, Espinoza J, Kusanovic J, et al. The preterm parturition syndrome. BJOG. 2006;113 Suppl 3:17–42. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Raison CL, Capuron L, Miller AH. Cytokines sing the blues: inflammation and the pathogenesis of depression. Trends Immunol. 2006;27:24–31. - PMC - PubMed
    1. De Kloet ER, Vreugdenhil E, Oitzl MS, Joels M. Brain corticosteroid receptor balance in health and disease. Endocr Rev. 1998;19:269–301. - PubMed

Publication types

Substances