Aquaporin-9 as an Essential Biomarker of the Inflammatory Process in Preterm Prelabour Rupture of Membranes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54133/ajms.v9i2.2403Keywords:
Aquaporin-9, Inflammatory process, Pre-labor membranes ruptureAbstract
Background: Preterm pre-labor rupture of membranes (PPROM) is a prevalent obstetric condition causing significant maternal and fetal complications. Aquaporins (AQPs) are membrane proteins that contribute to inflammatory processes and carry out a pivotal role in transmembrane water transport. Since PPROM is an inflammatory process, aquaporin-9 is considered to contribute to its pathogenesis. Objective: To detect the aquaporin-9 concentration in the serum of cases with PPROM and to assess its association with reported adverse outcomes. Methods: A prospective case-control study was conducted on a sample of 90 pregnant women, divided into 2 groups: 45 women with PPROM and a control group of 45 healthy pregnant women. The serum aquaporin-9 was measured for all participants and compared between the two groups. The pregnant women with PPROM were followed up for neonatal and obstetrical outcomes. Results: The mean aquaporin-9 level was significantly higher in women with PPROM in comparison to controls. The aquaporin-9 level cut-off level > 4.22 ng/ml was with a sensitivity of 86.7% and a specificity of 84.4% for the diagnosis of PPROM. The mean aquaporin-9 level was significantly higher among preterm pregnant women with prelabour rupture of membranes with shorter time to delivery after membrane rupture. Conclusions: Aquaporin-9 is crucial for diagnosing PPROM. Higher levels can predict shorter time to deliver in PPROM cases, influencing management decisions.
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