The majority of preterm births have no clear risk factor. Intense effort has been directed to the discovery of biomarkers that can identify subclinical pathological changes before symptoms and signs of a specific obstetrical syndrome appear.
PRB researchers conducted a study in an African American population which demonstrated that maternal blood microRNAs identify women at risk of spontaneous preterm birth in blood samples drawn during first trimester. Therefore, this study offers hope that maternal microRNA profiles will enable clinicians to institute early intervention at a time when therapy is most effective.
