Sonographic measurement of cervical length and fetal fibronectin testing in threatened preterm labor

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dc.contributor.authorTsoi E.
dc.contributor.authorAkmal S.
dc.contributor.authorGeerts L.
dc.contributor.authorJeffery B.
dc.contributor.authorNicolaides K.H.
dc.date.accessioned2011-05-15T16:18:19Z
dc.date.available2011-05-15T16:18:19Z
dc.date.issued2006
dc.description.abstractObjective: In women presenting with threatened preterm labor, both fetal fibronectin and sonographic measurement of cervical length have been shown to distinguish between true and false labor. The aim of this study was to determine whether the combination of both tests provides a better prediction than the individual tests alone. Methods: We examined 195 women with singleton pregnancies presenting at 24-36 (median 31) weeks of gestation with regular and painful uterine contractions, intact membranes and cervical dilatation of less than 3 cm. On admission to the hospital fetal fibronectin positivity in cervicovaginal secretions was determined and transvaginal sonographic measurement of cervical length was carried out. The results were not made available to the attending obstetrician. The primary outcome measure was delivery within 7 days of presentation. Results: Delivery within 7 days occurred in 51.4% (18 of 35) of those with cervical length below 15 mm and 0.6% (1 of 160) of those with cervical length of 15 mm or more, in 21.2% (18 of 85) of the fibronectin positive group and in 0.9% (1 of 110) of the fibronectin negative group. There was a significant association between cervical length and the incidence of fibronectin positivity (r = -0.921, P = 0.003). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the only significant contributor to the prediction of delivery within 7 days was cervical length, with no significant contribution from fibronectin positivity, ethnic origin, maternal age, gestational age, body mass index, parity, previous history of preterm delivery, cigarette smoking, or use of tocolytics. Conclusions: In women with threatened preterm labor assessment of fetal fibronectin in cervicovaginal secretions does not improve the prediction of delivery within 7 days provided by the sonographic measurement of cervical length. Copyright © 2006 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
dc.description.versionArticle
dc.identifier.citationUltrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
dc.identifier.citation27
dc.identifier.citation4
dc.identifier.issn09607692
dc.identifier.other10.1002/uog.2723
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/14605
dc.subjectfetoprotein
dc.subjectfibronectin
dc.subjectuterus spasmolytic agent
dc.subjectadolescent
dc.subjectadult
dc.subjectarticle
dc.subjectbody mass
dc.subjectcigarette smoking
dc.subjectclinical trial
dc.subjectcontrolled clinical trial
dc.subjectcontrolled study
dc.subjectethnic group
dc.subjectfemale
dc.subjectfetus membrane
dc.subjectgestational age
dc.subjecthuman
dc.subjectimminent abortion
dc.subjectintermethod comparison
dc.subjectlogistic regression analysis
dc.subjectmajor clinical study
dc.subjectmaternal age
dc.subjectparity
dc.subjectpregnant woman
dc.subjectpremature labor
dc.subjectpriority journal
dc.subjecttransvaginal echography
dc.subjectuterine cervix cytology
dc.subjectuterine cervix dilatation
dc.subjectuterus contraction
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectBiological Markers
dc.subjectBody Mass Index
dc.subjectCervix Uteri
dc.subjectContinental Population Groups
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectFibronectins
dc.subjectGestational Age
dc.subjectGlycoproteins
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectLogistic Models
dc.subjectMaternal Age
dc.subjectObstetric Labor, Premature
dc.subjectParity
dc.subjectPregnancy
dc.subjectPregnancy Trimester, Third
dc.subjectRecurrence
dc.subjectRegression Analysis
dc.subjectRisk Assessment
dc.subjectROC Curve
dc.subjectSensitivity and Specificity
dc.subjectUltrasonography, Prenatal
dc.titleSonographic measurement of cervical length and fetal fibronectin testing in threatened preterm labor
dc.typeArticle
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