Usefulness of marking alkaline phosphatase and C-reactive protein in monitoring the risk of preterm delivery

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this paper is to compare the effectiveness of use of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in marking and monitoring the risk of preterm delivery due to infection. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study involved 83 patients assigned to groups: Group I (n=43) consisted of patients hospitalized for symptoms of preterm delivery, and Group II (control group n=40) consisted of patients controlled or hospitalized delivering on time without complications, whose pregnancy had a physiological course. All patients had a single marking of ALP and CRP levels in serum performed. RESULTS: CRP levels were within the range 7 mg/l to 94 mg/l in the study group, and 4.83 mg/l to 90 mg/l in the control group. The level of ALP in the study group ranged from 139 u/l to 368 u/l and from 218 u/l to 321 u/l in the control group. In more than half of women (72.1%) from study group, CRP level exceeded 7 mg/l; in the control group, the CRP level exceeded 7 mg/l in 35% of cases. Significantly higher levels of CRP (above 20 mg/l) and ALP (above 300 u/l) were found in the 18 patients from the study group compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Although an increase in the level of ALP in serum cannot be an absolute and sole marker of the risk of preterm delivery, it can be used in conjunction with a significantly elevated CRP level.