METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF LIKELIHOOD OF OCCURRENCE OF PRETERM LABOR IN PREGNANT FEMALES

摘要

The presence of 3-chlorotyrosine in vaginal secretions in a predictor of thelikelihood preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes, i.e., thechorioamnion and/or the occurrence of the risk of preterm labor. 3-chlorotyrosine is a marker for the excessive production of hypochlorous acidwhich causes focal areas of increased collagen destruction in thechorioamnion, preterm premature rupture of membranes, or increased productionof postaglandin and preterm labor. The inventive method comprises determiningthe likelihood of the occurrence of preterm premature rupture of membranes orincreased production of postaglandin and preterm labor in a pregnant female byobtaining a sample of the females vaginal secretions, and analyzing thesecretions for the presence and amount of 3-chlorotyrosine in the sample.Various antibody-based tests can be used to measure 3-chlorotyrosine, and anumber of neoantigens, useful in raising antibodies to 3-chlorotyrosine, aredisclosed.