New ultrasonographic midtrimester scoring method for predicting spontaneous preterm birth in uncomplicated asymptomatic twin pregnancies

Erdem Sahin; Yusuf Madendag; Mefkure Eraslan Sahin; Ilknur Col Madendag; Mehmet Mete Kirlangic

doi:10.1515/jpm-2021-0419

Article

New ultrasonographic midtrimester scoring method for predicting spontaneous preterm birth in uncomplicated asymptomatic twin pregnancies

Erdem Sahin , Yusuf Madendag , Mefkure Eraslan Sahin , Ilknur Col Madendag and Mehmet Mete Kirlangic

Published/Copyright: February 14, 2022

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From the journal Journal of Perinatal Medicine Volume 50 Issue 5

Abstract

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to evaluate a new ultrasonographic scoring method that could predict spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) in uncomplicated twin pregnancies during routine anomaly screening in the midtrimester.

Methods

This prospective study included women with a monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) or dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twin pregnancy gestational ages from 17^0/7 through 22^6/7. A new ultrasonographic score between 0 and 5 points was calculated using cervical length (CL), uterocervical angle (UCA), and cervical dilatation status during routine anomaly screening in the midtrimester. The primary outcome of the study was the prediction of sPTB < 32 and <34 gestational weeks.

Results

A total of 118 pregnant women with twins were evaluated, 31 of whom delivered before 34 gestational weeks an 87 of whom delivered after 34 gestational weeks. The sensitivity and specificity values were separately calculated for scores of 3.5 and 2.5 for predicting sPTB < 32 gestational weeks. The cut-off value of 3.5 provided a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 82%. When the score was 2.5, the sensitivity and specificity were 86 and 71%, respectively. To determine a score for predicting sPTB < 34 gestational week cut-off value of 3.5 provided a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 90%. When the score value was 2.5, the sensitivity and specificity of the method were 83 and 81%, respectively.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that the midtrimester new scoring is a simple technique that can be easily used as an improved tool for predicting the risk of sPTB in women with a twin pregnancy.

Keywords: midtrimester; new ultrasonographic scoring; spontaneous preterm birth; spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB); twin pregnancies

Corresponding author: Mehmet Mete Kirlangic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tuzla Government Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey; and Soğanlık Yeni neighborhood, Aheste Street, Çukurova Balkon apartment, B Block No.50 Kartal,Istanbul, Turkey, Phone: +905064641819, E-mail: metekirlangic@gmail.com

Research funding: This study did not receive grants from any funding source within the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sector.
Author contribution: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: The authors have declared that they have no conflicts of interest associated with this study.
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
Ethical approval: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Erciyes University (Approve no: 2019/230).
Data availability: The data used to support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

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Received: 2021-08-29

Accepted: 2022-01-24

Published Online: 2022-02-14

Published in Print: 2022-06-27

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jpm-2021-0419

Keywords for this article

midtrimester; new ultrasonographic scoring; spontaneous preterm birth; spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB); twin pregnancies