Inventors:
Michal A. Elovitz - Wynnewood PA, US
Assignee:
The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia PA
International Classification:
G01N 33/566, G01N 21/76, G01N 21/64, C12Q 1/68, C40B 30/04
US Classification:
506 9, 436501, 435 792, 435 612, 435 611
Abstract:
A method for diagnosing, or differentially diagnosing, an increased risk of pre-term birth (PTB) involves detecting or measuring increased expression of a biomarker Soluble E-cadherin (SE-CAD) in a biological sample from a mammalian subject, particularly in the urine, cervicovaginal fluid or blood. An increased level of expression of SE-CAD above the level of expression in the same sample of a healthy mammalian subject is an indication of a diagnosis of increased risk of PTB. Such diagnosis may further involve identify other clinical symptoms of PTB or PTL. Additionally the method may use additional biomarkers, such as fetal fibronectin.