Objective: Previous studies have reported that concentrations of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen in amniotic fluid are extremely higher than that in the maternal serum. The aim of this study was to assess the potential clinical utility of vaginal fluid SCC level as a marker for diagnosing premature rupture of membranes (PROM).
Methods: A case-control study was performed using patients admitted to Nara Medical University Hospital, delivery ward, from January 2011 to December 2012. The discriminatory potential of SCC assay was determined using 54 PROM and 108 gestational age-matched control vaginal fluid samples, in a 1:2 ratio. Levels of vaginal fluid SCC in patients with PROM and control pregnant women were quantified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: The statistical results showed no correlation between gestational age and vaginal fluid SCC levels. There was no significant difference in vaginal fluid SCC levels between patients with PROM and those with control pregnant women (16156.5 ± 10495.8 ng/mL versus 15471.9 ± 11362.2 ng/mL, p = 0.467).
Conclusion: We conclude that SCC could not be regarded as a potential marker for diagnosis of PROM. SCC may be a physiologic constituent of the vaginal fluid during pregnancy.
Keywords: Amniotic fluid; diagnosis; premature rupture of membranes; squamous cell carcinoma antigen; vaginal discharge.