Saliva test for premature deliveries

2009/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna
• Medikuntza

A saliva test allows to predict premature deliveries, according to a group of UK researchers. To carry out the test, researchers from the Royal School of London and the University School have proposed to measure the degree of progesterone of the saliva of pregnant women.

According to researchers, women who suffer from premature deliveries have low levels of progesterone. Scientists do not know how the hormone affects childbirth, but they know that progesterone has anti-inflammatory properties. As they have explained, low levels of this hormone in the body can cause bacterial infections, one of the most known causes of premature deliveries.