Study of Cervical Mucus Cytology and Serum Inflammatory Biomarkers in Preterm Labour Compared to Term Pregnancy Cases in a Tertiary Care Center of Western Uttar Pradesh (UP), India.

PURPOSE: The onset of labor prior to 37 weeks of gestation is preterm labor. Incidence ranges from 5% to 7% of live births in developed countries, but higher in developing countries (10-13%). Preterm birth is a major threat in perinatal health care, as well as a risk factor for neurological impairment and disability. Considering that infection is the major risk factor for preterm labor in rural areas, this study was performed to assess the cytological changes in the cervical mucus of normal-term and preterm labor cases.

METHOD: A hospital-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at a tertiary care center in western Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. The sample size calculated was 90. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in cervical mucus, along with serum inflammatory biomarkers such as CRP and serum alkaline phosphatase, were compared in both groups.

RESULT: The incidence of preterm labor increased with an increase in parity, and progression to preterm delivery is faster in the higher parity group. C-reactive protein (CRP) (p value = < 0.001) and serum alkaline phosphatases (taking 220IU/L as the cutoff value), as well as the NLR (p value < 0.001) in cervical mucus in preterm labor, are significantly higher than those in term labor cases, which can be used to predict preterm labor.

CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (> 220 IU/L) and CRP positivity can be used as prognostic markers. Using a cutoff value of 5 for the NLR in the cervical mucus of preterm labor patients proved to be a highly accurate predictor (82.2%) for preterm labor diagnosis.