[Clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase-9/tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase -1 imbalance in maternal serum, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord serum in patients with premature rupture of the membranes].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the roles of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 in maternal serum, amniotic fluid and umbilical cord serum in predicting premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) and chorioamnionitis.

METHODS

The levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in maternal serum, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord serum of 58 pregnant women with PROM and 38 women with normal pregnancies. Chorioamnionitis was histopathologically confirmed after delivery.

RESULTS

(1) The levels of MMP-9 in maternal serum, umbilical cord serum and amniotic fluid were (141.9 +/- 84.6) ng/L, (138.2 +/- 81.4) ng/L and (85.6 +/- 27.5) ng/L respectively, significantly higher in patients with PROM than those of the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively), while the levels of TIMP-1 in maternal serum, amniotic fluid and umbilical cord serum were (378.1 +/- 220.2) ng/L, (44.6 +/- 24.0) ng/L and (257.2 +/- 98.8) ng/L respectively, significantly lower in patients with PROM than those of the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). (2) The longer the duration from rupture of membranes to delivery was, the more serious chorioamnionitis was, and the higher the levels of MMP-9 and the lower the TIMP-1 levels in maternal serum, amniotic fluid, and umbilical cord serum were. (3) The levels of MMP-9 in maternal serum, umbilical cord serum and amniotic fluid were (183.8 +/- 84.7) ng/L, (171.2 +/- 92.9) ng/L and (95.5 +/- 21.1) ng/L respectively, significantly higher in patients with chorioamnionitis than those of non-chorioamnionitis (P < 0.05, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively), while the levels of TIMP-1 in maternal serum, amniotic fluid and umbilical cord serum were (269.7 +/- 144.4) ng/L, (32.1 +/- 16.6) ng/L and (210.6 +/- 81.9) ng/L respectively, significantly lower in patients with chorioamnionitis than those of non-chorioamnionitis (P < 0.05, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). (4) The levels of MMP-9 in maternal serum, umbilical cord serum and amniotic fluid were (234.4 +/- 79.4) ng/L, (222.1 +/- 120.1) ng/L and (108.5 +/- 42.2) ng/L respectively, significantly higher in neonates whose Apgar score < or = 7 than those of neonates whose Apgar score > or = 8 (P < 0.05, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively), while the levels of TIMP-1 in maternal serum, amniotic fluid and umbilical cord serum were (225.3 +/- 121.7) ng/L, (25.2 +/- 15.8) and (181.7 +/- 135.2) ng/L respectively, significantly lower in neonates whose Apgar score < or = 7 than those of neonates whose Apgar score > or = 8 (P < 0.05, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

It is suggested that preterm PROM is associated with increased MMP-9 and decreased TIMP-1 levels. MMP-9 and TIMP-1 are valuable clinical biological markers for identifying chorioamnionitis and predicting neonates prognosis.