[Placental corticotropin releasing-hormone and urocortin--possible role in mechanism of preterm labor].

The preterm labor is a very important clinical problem, both in the diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic aspect. It is the leading cause of prenatal morbidity and mortality. Despite of numerous studies and hypotheses mechanisms responsible for human parturition and pre-term labor are unclear. More than 30 years ago it was documented, that placenta is the important source of hormones, cytokins and growth factors. Corticotropin-relasing hormone (CRH) and urocortin (new ligand of CRH receptor) secreted during pregnancy by placenta, chorion, amnion and uterine decidua probably plays important role in human parturition and preterm labor. Possibly the combined hormonal markers profile to predict preterm labor can be used in the future.