Predicting spontaneous preterm birth: Esplin et al




The article below summarizes a roundtable discussion of a study published in this issue of the Journal in light of its methodology, relevance to practice, and implications for future research. Article discussed:


Esplin MS, Merrell K, Goldenberg R, et al; the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units. Proteomic identification of serum peptides predicting subsequent spontaneous preterm birth. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2011;204:391.e1-8.


The full discussion appears at www.AJOG.org , pages e1-3.


Discussion questions





  • Was the overall study design a good choice?



  • What was the Preterm Prediction Study?



  • Was it reasonable to use data from the early 1990s?



  • What were the main findings?



  • What does ITIH4 do?



  • What were the study’s strengths and weaknesses?



This month, the Journal Club discussed an engrossing article by Esplin and colleagues, which focused on the identification of maternal serum peptides that might serve as predictors of spontaneous preterm birth. Their work, consisting of 2 nested case-control studies, incorporated data and serum samples acquired during the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network Preterm Prediction Study. Journal Club participants were uniformly excited by this undertaking.


May 31, 2017 | Posted by in GYNECOLOGY | Comments Off on Predicting spontaneous preterm birth: Esplin et al

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