Maternal Serum C – Reactive Protein: A Biomarker for Prediction of Preterm Delivery and Neonatal Outcome at Early Pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Preterm labour defined as less than 37 weeks of gestation is responsible for most of the neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study was conducted to estimate the relation between C reactive protein (CRP) with preterm labour. Method: This prospective observational cohort study was conducted from February 2018 to January 2019 at Obstetrics and Gynecology department of Srimati Heera Kunwar Ba hospital, Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, Rajasthan with 150 outpatient singleton pregnant women of <20 weeks of gestation enrolled at the prenatal visit. Baseline data and serum CRP values were taken in all participants. Conventional statistical methods were used for analysis. Result: We discovered measurably critical contrasts in the CRP levels estimated in early pregnancy between the women delivering preterm and those delivering at term. The baseline cut off value for maternal CRP was 5.5 mg/l with sensitivity of 100%, and specificity of 95.7%, positive and negative predictive value for serum CRP to predict preterm labour were 95.8 % and 99.2% respectfully. Conclusion: Maternal serum concentration of CRP can be utilized as fitting biomarker for foreseeing preterm delivery.