Influence of transvaginal ultrasound examination on quantitative vaginal fibronectin measurements: a prospective evaluation study
-
Michaela Golic
,
Jan-Peter Siedentopf
Abstract
Objective:
The most important parameter in prediction of preterm birth is the cervical length measured by transvaginal ultrasound. In cases with mid-range cervical length (10–30 mm), prediction of preterm birth is difficult. In these cases, testing for cervicovaginal fluid fetal fibronectin (fFN) can improve prediction. However, it is unclear whether transvaginal ultrasound itself influences the fFN result. The purpose of this study was to evaluate this issue independent of gestational age and cervical length.
Methods:
A prospective evaluation study with 96 cases of pregnant women at 20–41 weeks of gestation was conducted in a tertiary perinatal center. A comparison of cervicovaginal fFN samples before and immediately after transvaginal ultrasound was performed. Fetal fibronectin was measured using the Hologic Rapid fFN 10Q system. It was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively with ≥50 ng/mL as threshold for “positive”. Changes in fFN values following transvaginal ultrasound were measured.
Results:
Ninety-six percent (69/72) of women with a fFN concentration of <26 ng/mL before ultrasound had a corresponding fFN value <26 ng/mL after ultrasound. Ninety-three percent (13/14) of women with a fFN concentration of ≥100 ng/mL before ultrasound had a corresponding fFN value ≥100 ng/mL after ultrasound. In 80% (4/5) of women with a positive fFN sample but with a value <100 ng/mL, it turned negative (<50 ng/mL) after ultrasound. For fFN concentrations ≥100 ng/mL, there are high random fluctuations in the measurement results.
Conclusions:
Fetal fibronectin values of <26 ng/mL (for “negative”) and ≥100 ng/mL (for “positive”) from samples taken after ultrasound provide the same qualitative information as when sampled before ultrasound. For the correct interpretation however, quantitative analysis is necessary.
Acknowledgment:
We thank Dr. Andreas Busjahn (HealthTwiSt GmbH, Berlin, Germany) for providing excellent statistical analysis.
Conflict of interest statement: Hologic, Inc. provided us with free fetal fibronectin specimen collecting kits and the fFN 10Q analyzing system including the positive and negative controls. Wolfgang Henrich is member of the European advisory board on fetal fibronectin, which is sponsored by Hologic, Inc.
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Supplemental Material:
The online version of this article (DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2015-0270) offers supplementary material, available to authorized users.
©2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- What’s new in preterm birth prediction and prevention?
- Academy’s Corner
- Antenatal corticosteroids: current controversies
- Review articles
- The safety of progestogen in the prevention of preterm birth: meta-analysis of neonatal mortality
- Cervical pessary for the prevention of preterm birth: is it of any use?
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- Nifedipine increases fetoplacental perfusion
- Effect of sleep disorders on threatened premature delivery
- Risk of recurrent preterm birth among women according to change in partner
- Biomarkers of spontaneous preterm birth: a systematic review of studies using multiplex analysis
- Influence of transvaginal ultrasound examination on quantitative vaginal fibronectin measurements: a prospective evaluation study
- Evaluation of quantitative fFn test in predicting the risk of preterm birth
- The value of ultrasound measurement of cervical length and parity in prediction of cesarean section risk in term premature rupture of membranes and unfavorable cervix
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- Congress Calendar
- Congress Calendar
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- What’s new in preterm birth prediction and prevention?
- Academy’s Corner
- Antenatal corticosteroids: current controversies
- Review articles
- The safety of progestogen in the prevention of preterm birth: meta-analysis of neonatal mortality
- Cervical pessary for the prevention of preterm birth: is it of any use?
- Maternal and neonatal outcomes following expectant management of preterm prelabour rupture of membranes before viability
- Highlight articles
- Placental malperfusion as a possible mechanism of preterm birth in patients with Müllerian anomalies
- Nifedipine increases fetoplacental perfusion
- Effect of sleep disorders on threatened premature delivery
- Risk of recurrent preterm birth among women according to change in partner
- Biomarkers of spontaneous preterm birth: a systematic review of studies using multiplex analysis
- Influence of transvaginal ultrasound examination on quantitative vaginal fibronectin measurements: a prospective evaluation study
- Evaluation of quantitative fFn test in predicting the risk of preterm birth
- The value of ultrasound measurement of cervical length and parity in prediction of cesarean section risk in term premature rupture of membranes and unfavorable cervix
- Comparison of the duo of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1/alpha fetoprotein (Amnioquick duo+®) and traditional clinical assessment for diagnosing premature rupture of fetal membranes
- Efficacy of a prospective community-based intervention to prevent preterm birth
- Maternal complications in settings where two-thirds of extremely preterm births are delivered by cesarean section
- The risk of neonatal respiratory morbidity according to the etiology of late preterm delivery
- Thyroid dysfunction in preterm neonates exposed to iodine
- Congress Calendar
- Congress Calendar
