Potential for Diagnostic Test Using Endocannabinoids to Predict Pre-Term Birth (PTB)

It may be possible to predict women who are at higher risk of pre-term birth using a single diagnostic test. Data from an article by Bachkangi et al. shows that anandamide (AEA) and PEA concentrations were significantly higher in women who delivered prematurely. An increased AEA concentration (>1.095 nM) predicted PTB, the gestational age at delivery and the recruitment to delivery interval (RTDI). A higher PEA concentration (>17.50 nM) only predicted PTB; FAAH enzyme activity was not related to these changes. It is peculiar that high-risk women had higher plasma AEA concentrations - even when asymptomatic, and the reason behind this remains unclear.

The authors propose that a single plasma AEA or PEA measurement can predict PTB. A single AEA measurement could predict the gestational age of delivery and the remaining period of pregnancy with reasonable accuracy and could be better than existing conventional tests thus offering a better window for primary prevention of PTB.

Quote I’m Pondering from the article: “We believe that this test, or something similar, could transform the management of PTB, since it provides a first biochemical test for the primary prevention of the condition.”

Question: How rugged and reproducible is this test? Can samples be shipped or do they have to be tested immediately?

Bachkangi, P., Taylor, A., Bari, M., Maccarrone, M., Konje, J. (2019). Prediction of preterm labour from a single blood test: The role of the endocannabinoid system in predicting preterm birth in high-risk women. European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology 243(), 1-6. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.09.029