Ultrasound monitoring of cervical canal length combined with measurement of fibronectin in cervical secretion for predicting preterm delivery

Abstract

The length of cervical canal was monitored by perineal ultrasonography in 377 pregnant women with 22 to 36 weeks of gestation, at the same time the contents of fibronectin (fFN) in cervical secretions were measured. The rate of cervical canal length shortening from the time of first visit to the appearance of preterm signs was calculated. When the cervical length shortening rate was 16%~60%, fFN (+) was correlated with higher preterm birth rate (P 60% there was no significant difference in preterm delivery rate between fFN (+) and fFN (-) groups (P>0.05). The results indicate that the monitoring of cervical canal length combined with fiberonectin measurement in cervical secretion may better predict preterm birth. Key words: Fibrin; Preterm birth