Patent ID: 7776557

Claim:
A method of monitoring tocolytic therapy in a pregnant woman, comprising: (a) determining a first concentration of placental protein 13 (PP13) in a bodily substance of a woman who has not received treatment with a tocolytic agent, wherein the bodily substance of the woman is selected from the group consisting of maternal blood, saliva, urine, amniotic fluid, and umbilical cord blood; (b) determining a second concentration of PP13 in a bodily substance of the pregnant woman after initiation of treatment with a tocolytic agent, wherein the bodily substance of the woman is selected from the group consisting of maternal blood, saliva, urine, amniotic fluid, and umbilical cord blood; and (c) comparing said second concentration with said first concentration, and, based on said comparison, determining whether to continue, discontinue, or modify said tocolytic treatment.