Prenatal factors affecting presepsin levels at delivery times in pregnant women

Abstract

 Presepsin levels have been appreciated as an early diagnostic biomarker of sepsis with a high level of evidence, because presepsin levels rise earlier than levels of other well-known markers of inflammation. Presepsin levels are not easily affected by invasive injuries and surgeries, but they reflect treatment responses and the severity of bacterial infection. Five hundred and one pregnant women aged 20 years and over who received medical care from the first trimester of pregnancy and delivered a baby in the Department of Gynecology, Fukui Aiiku Hospital from April 2018 to May 2019 were enrolled in the study. Pregnant women with comorbid conditions and plurifetation, and stillbirth were excluded. Presepsin levels in whole blood, complete blood cell counts and CRP levels were measured during pregnancy period（median gestational ages: 28weeks and 3days） and at delivery times（median gestational ages: 39weeks and 4days）. Presepsin levels at each time showed no significant correlation with complete blood cell counts and CRP levels. Next, we analyzed the effects of prenatal factors associated with presepsin levels at delivery times, there were significant differences in presepsin levels and the rate of change of presepsin levels from pregnancy period to delivery times between pregnant women with and without threatened premature labor, same as only about preterm deliveries. There was a significant inverse correlation between the time from threatened premature labor to delivery and presepsin levels at delivery times. In conclusion, it was suggested that presepsin levels at delivery times may be an indicator of inflammation during pregnancy period that causes threatened premature labor.