Endocervical hyaluronan and ultrasound‐indicated cerclage

Abstract

To investigate whether, at the time of ultrasound-indicated cerclage, the endocervical concentration of hyaluronan (HA), 27-kDa heat shock protein (HSP-27) and/or interleukin-8 (IL-8) would predict pregnancy outcome. Endocervical samples, obtained from 40 women undergoing ultrasound-indicated cerclage at 15 + 3 to 25 + 0 weeks' gestation, were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for HA, HSP-27 and IL-8. All subjects had a cervical length of < 1.5 cm or dramatic cervical length change on serial endovaginal ultrasound, no uterine contractions or tenderness, no fever and intact membranes and underwent a modified Shirodkar cerclage. The median HA level was 10.0 ng/mL in the 12 women who delivered at < 37 weeks' gestation as opposed to 39.7 ng/mL in the 28 women delivering at 37-41 weeks (P = 0.017). Median HSP-27 and IL-8 concentrations were not significantly different in these groups. A higher endocervical HA level at the time of ultrasound-indicated cerclage is associated with a longer interval before birth.