BACKGROUND: The timing of parturition is an important determinant of labor and delivery care. Early parturition is associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. Most existing studies analyzed a single factor for the initiation of parturition, and the role of multiple factors in initiating parturition has not been comprehensively analyzed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We measured the levels of proinflammatory mediators, hypoxia factor, matrix metalloproteinases, hormones, and oxytocin, as well as fetal umbilical blood flow, before and after labor, and their associations with parturition. We also built a statistical model to predict the timing of parturition based on the measurement data.

RESULTS: IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MMP-9, and HIF-1α concentrations significantly increased from full term to labor. The PRL level significantly decreased from full term to parturition. There was no significant change in MCP-1, E3, and OT concentrations from full term to parturition. IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and MMP-9 concentrations were negatively correlated with the initiation of parturition. There was a small but nonsignificant increase in umbilical venous blood flow before parturition. Multiple factors showed a close correlation with the initiation of parturition, and area under the curve analysis showed that a multiple factor model was superior to single factors in the establishment of a model to predict initiation of parturition; however, these results need further confirmation.

CONCLUSIONS: Combined proinflammatory biomarkers have better predictive value for term labor than single biomarkers.

Keywords: Tumor Necrosis Factors, Parturition, Delivery, Obstetric, Fetal Blood, Forecasting, Gestational Age, Hormones, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, Labor, Obstetric, Matrix Metalloproteinases, Models, Statistical, Oxytocin, Pregnancy, Term Birth