Transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement of cervical length in predicting intra-amniotic infection and impending preterm delivery in preterm labor: a comparison with amniotic fluid white blood cell count
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Kyo Hoon Park
Abstract
Aims: To determine whether sonographic measurement of cervical length predicts intra-amniotic infection and impending preterm delivery (within 7 days of amniocentesis) in women with preterm labor and intact membranes, and to compare the predictability with that of amniotic fluid (AF) white blood cell (WBC) count.
Methods: Transvaginal ultrasonographic assessment of cervical length was performed immediately after amniocentesis in 67 consecutive women with preterm labor. AF obtained by amniocentesis was cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and for Mycoplasmas, and WBC count was determined.
Results: Patients with a positive AF culture had a significantly shorter median cervical length, higher median AF WBC count, and lower median gestational age at delivery than did those with a negative AF culture. Multivariate analysis indicated that only the AF WBC count bears a significant relationship with the presence of intra-amniotic infection, whereas only cervical length correlates with impending preterm delivery.
Conclusions: Transvaginal sonographic measurements of cervical length are a valuable method for predicting intra-amniotic infection as well as impending preterm delivery in women with preterm labor. However, in comparison with AF WBC, cervical length is less predictive for intra-amniotic infection, whereas cervical length demonstrates better predictability of impending preterm delivery.
©2008 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
Articles in the same Issue
- Expert panel recommendation
- Diagnosis and treatment of peripartum bleeding
- Original articles – Obstetrics
- Transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement of cervical length in predicting intra-amniotic infection and impending preterm delivery in preterm labor: a comparison with amniotic fluid white blood cell count
- Visfatin/Pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor in amniotic fluid in normal pregnancy, spontaneous labor at term, preterm labor and prelabor rupture of membranes: an association with subclinical intrauterine infection in preterm parturition
- The antenatal identification of funisitis with a rapid MMP-8 bedside test
- Can neonatal myasthenia gravis be predicted?
- Blood loss in low-lying placenta: placental edge to cervical internal os distance of less vs. more than 2 cm
- History-indicated cerclage: practice patterns of maternal-fetal medicine specialists in the USA
- Original article – Fetus
- Jugular lymphatic sacs in the first trimester of pregnancy: the prevalence and the potential value in screening for chromosomal abnormalities
- Umbilical cord thickness in the first and early second trimesters and perinatal outcome
- Sex-specific charts for abdominal circumference in term and near-term Caucasian newborns
- Prediction of adverse perinatal outcome at term in small-for-gestational age fetuses: comparison of growth velocity vs. customized assessment
- Original article – Newborn
- Neonatal neurological morbidity associated with uterine rupture
- Short communication
- Long-term epidural block treatment in patients with early threatening preterm delivery and vaginal fetal engagement
- Letters to the editor
- Milk of women with lifetime consumption of the recommended daily intake of fish fatty acids should constitute the basis for the DHA contents of infant formula
- Reversible facial nerve palsy secondary to nasal continuous positive airway pressure
- Optimal timing of elective cesarean delivery for twins
- Congress Calendar
- Congress Calendar
- Index Volume 36 (2008)
- Index Volume 36 (2008) - Contents
- Index - Subjects
- Index - Subjects
- Index - Authors
- Index - Authors
- Acknowledgement
- Acknowledgement
Articles in the same Issue
- Expert panel recommendation
- Diagnosis and treatment of peripartum bleeding
- Original articles – Obstetrics
- Transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement of cervical length in predicting intra-amniotic infection and impending preterm delivery in preterm labor: a comparison with amniotic fluid white blood cell count
- Visfatin/Pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor in amniotic fluid in normal pregnancy, spontaneous labor at term, preterm labor and prelabor rupture of membranes: an association with subclinical intrauterine infection in preterm parturition
- The antenatal identification of funisitis with a rapid MMP-8 bedside test
- Can neonatal myasthenia gravis be predicted?
- Blood loss in low-lying placenta: placental edge to cervical internal os distance of less vs. more than 2 cm
- History-indicated cerclage: practice patterns of maternal-fetal medicine specialists in the USA
- Original article – Fetus
- Jugular lymphatic sacs in the first trimester of pregnancy: the prevalence and the potential value in screening for chromosomal abnormalities
- Umbilical cord thickness in the first and early second trimesters and perinatal outcome
- Sex-specific charts for abdominal circumference in term and near-term Caucasian newborns
- Prediction of adverse perinatal outcome at term in small-for-gestational age fetuses: comparison of growth velocity vs. customized assessment
- Original article – Newborn
- Neonatal neurological morbidity associated with uterine rupture
- Short communication
- Long-term epidural block treatment in patients with early threatening preterm delivery and vaginal fetal engagement
- Letters to the editor
- Milk of women with lifetime consumption of the recommended daily intake of fish fatty acids should constitute the basis for the DHA contents of infant formula
- Reversible facial nerve palsy secondary to nasal continuous positive airway pressure
- Optimal timing of elective cesarean delivery for twins
- Congress Calendar
- Congress Calendar
- Index Volume 36 (2008)
- Index Volume 36 (2008) - Contents
- Index - Subjects
- Index - Subjects
- Index - Authors
- Index - Authors
- Acknowledgement
- Acknowledgement
