Racial disparity in amniotic fluid concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and soluble TNF receptors in spontaneous preterm birth

The TNF-α/sTNFR profile in pregnancy differs between racial groups, suggesting a difference in bioavailability of TNF-α. The larger molar ratio of TNF-α/sTNFR in black cases may be indicative of a TNF-α mediated pathological process of preterm birth in blacks but not in whites.