| Summary: | <p><emph>Aims.</emph> Our aim is to investigate, in <mml:math> <mml:mn>13</mml:mn> </mml:math> cases (delivering preterm) and <mml:math> <mml:mn>21</mml:mn> </mml:math> matched (for age, parity, and gestational age) controls (delivering at term), whether midtrimester amniotic fluid concentrations of elastase, secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor (SLPI), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-<mml:math> <mml:mn>1</mml:mn> </mml:math>, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule predict asymptomatic intra-amniotic inflammation/infection and preterm labor. <emph> Results.</emph> Concentrations of all substances were not statistically different among mothers, delivering preterm or at term. SLPI concentrations significantly increased in women, going into labor without ruptured membranes, irrespective of pre- or term delivery (<mml:math> <mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo><</mml:mo><mml:mn>.007</mml:mn> </mml:math>, <mml:math> <mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo><</mml:mo><mml:mn>.001</mml:mn> </mml:math>, resp) and correlated with elastase (<mml:math> <mml:mi>r</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>0.508</mml:mn> </mml:math>, <mml:math> <mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo><</mml:mo><mml:mn>.002</mml:mn> </mml:math>). <emph>Conclusions.</emph> Midtrimester amniotic fluid SLPI concentrations significantly decrease when membrane rupture precedes pre- or full-term labor. However, none of the investigated substances predict preterm delivery.</p>
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