Can early pregnancy decorin levels be a potential predictor for preterm birth?

Abstract

Objective: This study investigates the role of maternal decorin levels measured in the early second trimester of pregnancy in detecting the potential for preterm birth in late pregnancy.Methods: The prospective, case-control study was carried out in tertiary university hospital from June to December 2021.Maternal serum samples were collected from 350 women aged 18-40 years with a singleton pregnancy during early second-trimester screening for aneuploidy, and stored at -80 degrees C. All participants were followed up until delivery and 25 patients diagnosed with preterm birth group and 40 full-term healthy women were included in the study.Results: The median maternal serum decorin level was 3.82 (1.15-12.37) ng/ml in the preterm birth (PTB) group and 4.63 (1.20-10.02) ng/ml in the control group, there was no statistically difference between the groups (p = 0.111). The mean gestational age was statistically significantly lower in the preterm birth group (33.1 +/- 2.7 weeks) than in the control (39 +/- 1.16 weeks) ( p <0.001). The mean fetal weight was statistically significantly lower in the preterm birth group (2023.8 +/- 477 g) than in the control group (3309.7 +/- 353 g) (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Early second-trimester serum levels of decorin alone may not be a sufficiently accurate biomarker as a biochemical model for the prediction of preterm birth in asymptomatic women.