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A test for fetal fibronectin in the vagina may improve the accuracy of predicting delivery in pregnant women at their due date. Fetal fibronectin can be detected around the uterine cervix at the onset of labor or following the rupture of fetal membranes. Researchers compared a rapid fibronectin test with the standard cervical scoring system for predicting the time of delivery for 204 women. Women delivered in an average of 1.7 days when fibronectin was detected and the cervix indicated impending delivery. Women delivered in an average of 7.1 days when both values were low.

OBJECTIVE:To determine whether circulating levels of leptin differed between women with preeclampsia and women who had an uncomplicated pregnancy.METHODS:Maternal and umbilical venous plasma leptin concentrations obtained at delivery were compared in 36 pairs of women with either preeclampsia or normal pregnancy, matched 1:1 for prepregnancy body mass index and fetal gestational age at delivery.RESULTS:Prepregnancy body mass index was 21.1 ± 2.1 kg/m2in either study group (range 17.6-25.3 kg/m2and 17.7-25.3 kg/m2in the normal and preeclamptic group, respectively). Mean fetal gestational age at delivery was 40.1 ± 1.3 weeks and 40.1 ± 1.2 weeks in the normal and preeclamptic group, respectively. Median leptin concentrations were significantly lower (p < .0001) in women with preeclampsia (8.3 ng/mL, range 3.5-20.0 ng/mL) than in normal pregnant women (20.2 ng/mL, range 6.0-63.7 ng/mL). Median umbilical venous leptin was not significantly different between groups (preeclampsia 11.8 ng/mL, range 2.0-37.2 ng/mL; normal 7.6 ng/mL, range 1.6-24.3 ng/mL; P =.377). Umbilical venous leptin levels correlated positively with birth weight in both groups (preeclampsia p = 0.501, P = .002; normal p = 0.517, P = .001), whereas no correlations were found between maternal and fetal hormone concentrations. Maternal leptin concentrations did not correlate with birth weight.CONCLUSION:Our data suggest that the correlation between umbilical venous leptin concentration and birth weight is independent of the presence of preeclampsia. Given the inconsistency in literature concerning circulating leptin levels in preeclampsia, further studies should investigate the regulatory systems of leptin in preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between umbilical venous leptin concentration and gender in 20 pairs of newborns matched 1:1 for birth weight and gestational age at sampling.MATERIALS:Blood samples were obtained from 40 women at delivery, identified as having an uncomplicated pregnancy. Umbilical venous blood samples were obtainedfrom their newborns (20 females and 20females) at birth. Specimens were analyzed using a human leptin 125-I radioimmunoassay.RESULTS: Fetal leptin correlated positively with birth weight (r s= 0.541; P < .001). Umbilical venous leptin concentrations in female newborns (median: 10.7 ng/mL, range: 3.5-34.4 ng/mL) were significantly higher (P = .028) than in male newborns (median: 7.7 ng/mL, range: 2.0-19.3 ng/mL). There was no significant correlation between maternal and fetal leptin concentrations. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed birth weight and gender to be independent factors influencing fetal cord leptin.CONCLUSION:Our results suggest that in the fetus, as in children and adults, gender and weight are the major determinants of circulating leptin levels.

Objective:To determine whether there is a difference in maternal leptin concentration and cord blood concentration, consistent with the hypothesis of a noncommunicating, two-compartement model of fetoplacental leptin regulation.Methods:Blood samples were collected from 139 women, identified as having an uncomplicated pregnancy, from an antecubital vein at delivery. Cord blood samples were taken from the umbilical vein. Leptin was measured by radioimmunoassay, and its relationship to fetal and maternal anthropometrics was assessed by Spearman correlation. Differences in maternal and cord blood leptin levels between male and female infants were tested twith the Mann-Whitney U test. Maternal and cord blood leptin were compared by the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The outcome measures were maternal and cord blood leptin at delivery, fetal birth weight, length, weight/length ratio, and ponderal index, maternal prepregnancy body mass index, pregnancy weight gain, relative weight gain, and body mass index at delivery.Results:No correlations were found between maternal and cord blood leptin concentrations. Fetal leptin level correlated with birth weight (ρ = 0.665; p < .0001), length (ρ = 0.490; P < .0001), ponderal index (ρ = 0.260; P = .002), and weight/length ratio (ρ = 0.625; P < .0001). Median leptin concentrations were higher in female (9.3 ng/mL, range 1.5-34.4 ng/mL) than in male (8.2 ng/mL, range 1.6-38.3 ng/mL) neonates, but this difference was statistically not significant. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant influence on umbilical venous leptin concentration for birth weight (P < .0001) but not for gender. Maternal leptin concentrations were significantly higher than cord leptin concentrations (P < .0005 for the male and female neonates and the entire group).Conclusion:There was no correlation between maternal and cord leptin, whiich supports the hypothesis of a noncommunicating, two-compartment model of fetoplacental leptin regulation.

One hundred fifty consecutive couples with recurrent abortions with or without fetal deaths, malformations, or healthy infants were evaluated cytogenetically with a G-band method. Seven couples (4.7%) showed a chromosome aberration in one partner (5 translocations, 1 inversion, and 1 gonosomal mosaicism). Of the couples with a pure abortion history, 2.9% had a chromosomal abnormality. A high incidence of chromosomal rearrangements in the groups of couples with abortions plus fetal deaths or malformations was found. In contrast to other reports, a high incidence of cytogenetic abnormalities was also found in couples with abortions and healthy infants. Chromosome analysis is advocated as a primary tool in the evaluation of couples with repetitive fetal wastage.