Prediction of preterm labour from a single blood test: The role of the endocannabinoid system in predicting preterm birth in high-risk women
Observational studyHumans
- Design
- Observational study
- Subjects
- 217 pregnant women at high risk of preterm birth, recruited at 24 to 34 weeks
- Dose used in the study
- No palmitoylethanolamide was given; plasma levels were measured
- Duration
- Prospective cohort followed to delivery
- What was measured
- Plasma anandamide, oleoylethanolamide and palmitoylethanolamide; FAAH enzyme activity; cervical length by ultrasound; predictive value by ROC and multivariate analysis.
What the authors reported
This observational study found:
- Anandamide and palmitoylethanolamide were higher in women who delivered preterm.
- Anandamide above 1.095 nM predicted preterm birth, gestational age at delivery and the recruitment-to-delivery interval.
- Palmitoylethanolamide above 17.50 nM predicted preterm birth only.
- FAAH activity was not related.
- A single anandamide or PEA measurement, the authors say, can predict preterm birth.
Limits of this study
An observational cohort measuring endogenous levels; no PEA was given and it says nothing about supplementation. Predictive cut-offs need testing in other cohorts. Funding and conflicts not stated in the abstract.
Source
PubMed 31618675 · doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.09.029
Entry checked against the abstract on PubMed on 2026-09-22. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.