Amino acids in amniotic fluid in the 15^th–16^th weeks of gestation and preterm labor

Abstract

Objective. To investigate amino acids in amniotic fluid collected at the time of genetic amniocentesis.

Methods. We analyzed 128 fluids from the 15^th week of gestation and 53 from the 16^th week of gestation from normal pregnancies, and eight in the 15^th week and seven in the 16^th week from pregnancies that lead to preterm deliveries. We calculated the mean values for each week and the ratios between each pair of amino acids. The data for both groups (normal and preterm delivery) were compared.

Results. The most abundant amino acid in both groups was alanine. The comparisons of the groups showed significant differences for isoleucine in the 15^th gestational week (p < 0.05). Some amino acids had different evolutions between both gestational ages on comparing the normal group and preterm group. Eighteen ratios in the 15^th week showed significant differences (mainly in the ratios of arginine and taurine), and three in the 16^th week.

Conclusions. The amino acid profiles in amniotic fluid, particularly in the 15^th week of gestation, showed differences in the pregnancies that lead to preterm delivery.

Keywords:

• Amniotic fluid
• amino acids
• arginine
• preterm birth