Abstract
PurposeTo examine if the uterocervical angle (UCA) can be used to predict preterm delivery in women with painful and regular uterine contractions and a cervical length of 25 mm or less.MethodsRetrospective study at the perinatal unit of the University Hospital of Tuebingen, Germany. Women with singleton gestation and preterm contractions between 24 + 0 and 33 + 6 weeks’ gestation were included. For the UCA measurement, a line is placed from the internal os to the external os irrespective of whether the cervix is straight or curved. A second line is drawn to delineate the lower uterine segment. The angle between the two lines is the UCA measurement. The measurements were taken on stored images from our database.ResultsThe study consisted of 213 singleton pregnancies. At the time of UCA measurement, median maternal and gestational age was 31.4 years and 29.7 weeks’ gestation. Median gestational age at delivery was 35.3 weeks and the corresponding birth weight 2480 g, respectively. The UCA measurement in women who delivered within 2 days, between 3–7 days and after 7 days was not helpful to distinguish between these three groups [median UCA measurements: 108.5°, 108.0° and 107.3° (Kruskal–Wallis test p = 0.576)]. Uni- and multivariate logistic multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the delivery within 2 days was only dependent on the gestational age and the cervical length at the time of presentation.ConclusionThe measurement of UCA is not useful in predicting preterm birth in the subsequent 7 days after an episode of preterm contractions.
Highlights
Prematurity is one of the major causes for perinatal morbidity, mortality, and lifelong impairments [1]
We have analyzed the role of the uterocervical angle (UCA) in patients with threatened preterm labor and a cervical length of 25 mm or less
That the UCA cannot be used either as a primary nor as an additional marker to predict preterm birth in the few days in women with preterm contractions
Summary
Prematurity is one of the major causes for perinatal morbidity, mortality, and lifelong impairments [1]. 15 million premature babies are born worldwide every year. The diagnosis of premature labor remains challenging. Of the women presenting with symptoms of preterm delivery, only 10–15% will deliver within the 2 to 7 days [2]. Numerous work groups have investigated biophysical and biochemical methods that could be used to distinguish between true and false labor [3]. Cervical length assessment belongs to the standard of care in women with
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