Human cathelicidin antimicrobial protein 18 (hCAP18/LL-37) is increased in fetal membranes and myometrium after spontaneous labour and delivery

Despite medical advances in recent years, pre-term birth remains one of the prevalent causes of neonatal death and long-term morbidities that extend to adulthood (Saigal and Doyle, 2008). Approximately 25% of all pre-term births are indicated, and the remainder are spontaneous. Spontaneous pre-term labour can occur with intact membranes (approximately 45%) or pre-labour rupture of the fetal membranes (PROM; 30% of cases) (Parry and Strauss, 1998). It is the traditionally view that term and pre-term labour undergo the same processes, but at different gestational ages.
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Source Type: research