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Maternal H-antigen secretor status is an early biomarker for potential preterm delivery

Journal of Perinatology volume 41, pages 2147–2155 (2021)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

Pre-pregnancy or first trimester biomarkers predicting preterm delivery are lacking. The purpose of this study was to determine whether maternal H-antigen (secretor status) is a potential biomarker for preterm delivery.

Methods

This cohort study examined maternal saliva samples and birth data gathered by the National Children’s Study Vanguard pilot phase (2009–2014) and included 300 women who were ≥18 years old and provided birth data and saliva samples. The maternal secretor status phenotype was determined by quantifying H-antigen in saliva using enzyme-linked immunoassay. Mothers were stratified by secretor status and multivariable analysis estimated adjusted associations with preterm delivery.

Results

Maternal lack of H-antigen production was an independent risk factor for preterm delivery after adjusting for known confounders (aOR 4.53; 95% CI: 1.74, 11.81; P = 0.002).

Conclusions

Maternal H-antigen may be a biomarker identifying women at-risk for preterm delivery. Prospective cohort studies validating these findings are needed.

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Fig. 1: The distribution of H-antigen concentrations.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Esposito Family Fund for Human Milk Research and Keith A. and Catherine B. Stevenson. We gratefully acknowledge the research team responsible for the original sample and data collection. This manuscript was prepared using National Children’s Study Research Materials obtained from the NCS Vanguard Data and Sample Archive and Access System and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development or the National Institutes of Health. We would like to thank Dr. Karim Rezaul for his support in providing technical advice and assistance during specimen processing and analysis, Drs. Jaqueline McGrath, Justin Radolf, and Jennifer Trzaski for their thoughtful critiques of the manuscript, and Ms. Lauren Tosi for her assistance with manuscript preparation. This was presented at the New England Perinatal Society Meeting in March 2019.

Funding

This study was funded by the Esposito Family Fund for Human Milk Research and Keith A. and Catherine B. Stevenson.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA

    Jennifer Caldwell, Adam Matson, James I. Hagadorn, James Moore & Elizabeth Brownell

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Universityof Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA

    Jennifer Caldwell, Adam Matson, James I. Hagadorn, James Moore & Elizabeth Brownell

  3. Department of Research, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA

    Maua Mosha

  4. School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Elizabeth Brownell

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Correspondence to Elizabeth Brownell.

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Caldwell, J., Matson, A., Mosha, M. et al. Maternal H-antigen secretor status is an early biomarker for potential preterm delivery. J Perinatol 41, 2147–2155 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-00870-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-00870-1

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