Cervical sonoelastography for improving prediction of preterm birth compared with cervical length measurement and fetal fibronectin test.

Abstract

AIM:

Accurate prediction of the risk of spontaneous preterm birth is crucial for the clinical management of patients with preterm labor. The aim of the study was to investigate whether cervical sonoelastography improves prediction of spontaneous preterm birth compared with cervical length measurement and a fetal fibronectin (fFN) test.

METHODS:

A prospective cohort study was conducted including 64 patients with preterm labor at 23-34 weeks of gestation. Patients had an fFN test and transvaginal cervical length measurement, followed by real-time cervical sonoelastography. The ratio of nondeformable tissue to the total area of a designed region of interest was analyzed and related to the gestational week of delivery.

RESULTS:

Cervical sonoelastography and fFN test show a significant correlation with spontaneous preterm delivery (P=0.007, P=0.001), resulting in 72.7%/36% sensitivity and 73%/95% specificity. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 61.5%/81.8% and the negative predictive value was 81.8%/70%. The cervical length was not different in cases with and without term delivery (P=0.165).

CONCLUSIONS:

Cervical sonoelastography is a promising technique that can complement routine diagnostic procedures to improve prediction of preterm birth. The PPV is improved by an fFN test.

• Authors: Dinah von Schöning, Thomas Fischer, Elisabeth von Tucher, Torsten Slowinski, Alexander Weichert, Wolfgang Henrich, Anke Thomas
• Journal: Journal of perinatal medicine (J Perinat Med) Vol. 43 Issue 5 Pg. 531-6 (Sep 2015) ISSN: 1619-3997 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 25720038 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• FFN protein, human
• Fibronectins

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Cervical Length Measurement
• Cervix Uteri (diagnostic imaging)
• Cohort Studies
• Double-Blind Method
• Elasticity Imaging Techniques (methods)
• Female
• Fibronectins (metabolism)
• Gestational Age
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Pregnancy
• Premature Birth (diagnostic imaging)
• Prospective Studies
• Young Adult