Use of saliva progesterone levels to predict preterm labor

Objective : The objective of our study is to predict preterm labor by using saliva progesterone levels.Materials and Methods: In this observation study, saliva progesterone levels of 100 patients in 24th, 27th and 30th weeks were evaluated with immun-assay method. The group of the patients who had preeclampsia, diabetes, multiple pregnancy or intrauterine growth retardation were excluded from the study and the patients in the study were followed up to delivery.Results: In 11 of 100 patients (9.09%) preterm labor occured. The average progesterone levels of the patients who had preterm labor was lower than the patients who had labor at term. Progesterone levels in 24th and 27th weeks were established statistically different (p=0,031, p=0,018). Although progesterone levels in the 30th week were measured lower, there was no statistical difference (p=0,061). In our study, the preterm labor incidence among the patients who didn?t have the history of previous preterm labor was %2.2, the preterm labor incidence among the patients who had preterm labor was calculated as 27.3% (p=0,004). In ROC analysis saliva progesterone levels in the 27th week are more significant than 24th and 30th weeks to predict preterm labor statistically.Conclusion: It is useful to measure saliva progesterone levels which is a non-invasive and high sensitivite method between 20th and 30th week to predict the preterm labor. On the other hand it should be considered that preterm labor is a multifactorial incident. So instead of using only one scale, both clinical signs and laboratuary findings should be assessed to predict and prevent preterm labor. Thus the patients with high risk can be identified and treated immediately.Keywords: Preterm, saliva, progesterone, labor