%0 Journal Article %A DAVARI TANHA, FATEMEH %A SARDARI, FARIBA %A EFTEKHAR, ZAHRA %A KAVEH, MAHBOD %A IZADY MOOD, NARGESS %T PREDICTING THE RISK OF PRETERM LABOR BY SECOND TRIMESTER MEASUREMENT OF MATERNAL a-FETOPROTEIN LEVELS AND A RISK FACTOR SCORING SYSTEM %J Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic Of Iran %V 19 %N 2 %U http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/article-1-435-en.html %R %D 2005 %K a-fetoprotein, prematurity, pretenn deli very, %X  ABSTRACT Background: Preterm labor (delivery after 20 weeks and before 37 weeks of gestation) is the leading cause of prenatal mortality in developed countries. Many women who have pre term labor have abnom1ally high plasma levels of a-fetoprotein in early pregnancy. Methods: This study was designed to evaluate the ability of this biochemical test and a clinical risk factor scoring system to prospectively discriminate pregnancies at high risk for preterm delivery. In nested case control study six~hundred women were studied prospectively from the early second trimester until delivery. There were sixty women in the study group (those with preterm delivery) and sixty women in the control group (those with term delivery). A plasma level sample was collected during the second trimester, between 17 and 30 week's gestation. Then a-fetoprotein was determined in both groups. Results: The mean AFP level was 196.75± 151.48 IU/mL in the study group and 85.98±55.90 IU/mL in the control group, both of which were statistically significant (p %> http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/article-1-435-en.pdf %P 127-130 %& 127 %! %9 Original Research %L A-10-1-276 %+ Department of Obstetrics & Cynecolog;: Mirza Koochek Khan Ho5pital. Reproductive HealthResearch Cente1: Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Tehran, Iran. %G eng %@ 1016-1430 %[ 2005