The relationship of preterm birth with fetal fibronectin level in cervicovaginal fluid and cervical lenght in ultrasonography

Abstract

Objective: In this study, the compatibility between fetal fibronectin determination and the use of cervical length measured by transvaginal ultrasonography of patients who were at risk of preterm birth in the examination performed at 24-34 weeks of gestation, and patients with an increased risk of preterm birth according to the result were defined. 
 
 Method: 40 patients who applied to Mustafa Kemal University Training and Research Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics outpatient clinic between May 2021 and May 2022 were included in the study. Fibronectin results were evaluated using the liquid ELISA method taken from the vaginal secretion by a swap. Cervical lengths were evaluated as 25 mm and below, between 25-30 mm and 30 mm and above in statistical data.
 
 Results: For fFN-positive patients, the preterm delivery rate of patients with a cervical length of 25 mm and less was determined as 100%, while the rate of preterm birth was determined as 77.8% for patients with a cervical length between 25 mm and 30 mm. In addition, the preterm labor rate of fFN-positive patients with a cervical length of 30 mm and above was determined as 78.57%. 
 
 Conclusion: All patients with a cervical length of 25 mm or less have a positive fFN test, and a strong correlation can be established between these two values. Accordingly, fFN positivity was found to have a higher sensitivity in determining the probability of preterm delivery compared to the cervical length ratio.