American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 201, Issue 3 , Pages 313.e1-313.e5 , September 2009

Prediction of spontaneous preterm birth in asymptomatic twin pregnancies with the use of combined fetal fibronectin and cervical length

Presentated orally at the 29th Annual Meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, San Diego, CA, Jan. 26-31, 2009.

  • Nathan S. Fox, MD

      Affiliations

    • Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates, PLLC, and the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprints: Nathan S. Fox, MD, Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates, PLLC, 70 East 90th St, New York, NY 10128
    • ,
  • Daniel H. Saltzman, MD

      Affiliations

    • Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates, PLLC, and the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
    • ,
  • Chad K. Klauser, MD

      Affiliations

    • Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates, PLLC, and the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
    • ,
  • Danielle Peress, MA

      Affiliations

    • Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates, PLLC, and the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
    • ,
  • Christina V. Gutierrez, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Metropolitan Hospital Center, New York, NY
    • ,
  • Andrei Rebarber, MD

      Affiliations

    • Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates, PLLC, and the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY

Received 18 February 2009 ,Revised 14 April 2009 ,Accepted 5 June 2009.

References 

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  3. Souka AP, Heath V, Flint S, Sevastopoulou I, Nicolaides KH. Cervical length at 23 weeks in twins in predicting spontaneous preterm delivery. Obstet Gynecol. 1999;94:450–454
  4. Imseis HM, Albert TA, Iams JD. Identifying twin gestations at low risk for preterm birth with a transvaginal ultrasonographic cervical measurement at 24 to 26 weeks' gestation. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1997;177:1149–1155
  5. Guzman ER, Walters C, O'Reilly-Green C, et al. Use of cervical ultrasonography in prediction of spontaneous preterm birth in twin gestations. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2000;183:1103–1107
  6. Goldenberg RL, Mercer BM, Meis PJ, Copper RL, Das A, McNellis D NICHD Maternal Fetal Medicine Units Network. The preterm prediction study: fetal fibronectin testing and spontaneous preterm birth. Obstet Gynecol. 1996;87:643–648
  7. Peaceman AM, Andrews WW, Thorp JM, et al. Fetal fibronectin as a predictor of preterm birth in patients with symptoms: a multicenter trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1997;177:13–18
  8. Terrone DA, Rinehart BK, Kraeden U, Morrison JC. Fetal fibronectin in symptomatic twin gestations. Prim Care Update Obstet Gynecol. 1998;5:179
  9. Singer E, Pilpel S, Bsat F, Plevyak M, Healy A, Markenson G. Accuracy of fetal fibronectin to predict preterm birth in twin gestations with symptoms of labor. Obstet Gynecol. 2007;109:1083–1087
  10. Wennerholm UB, Holm B, Mattsby-Baltzer I, et al. Fetal fibronectin, endotoxin, bacterial vaginosis and cervical length as predictors of preterm birth and neonatal morbidity in twin pregnancies. BJOG. 1997;104:1398–1404
  11. Gibson JL, Macar LM, Owen P, Young D, Macauly J, Mackenzie F. Prediction of preterm delivery in twin pregnancy: a prospective, observational study of cervical length and fetal fibronectin testing. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2004;23:561–566
  12. Iams JD, Goldenberg RL, Meis PJ, et al. The length of the cervix and the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery. N Engl J Med. 1996;334:567–572
  13. Yost NP, Bloom SL, Twickler DM, Levano KJ. Pitfalls in ultrasound cervical length measurements for predicting preterm birth. Obstet Gynecol. 1999;93:510–516
  14. Roman AS, Koklanaris N, Paidas MJ, Mulholland J, Levitz M, Rebarber A. “Blind” vaginal fetal fibronectin as a predictor of spontaneous preterm delivery. Obstet Gynecol. 2005;105:285–289
  15. Stafford IP, Garite TJ, Dildy GA, et al. Comparison of speculum and nonspeculum collection of cervicovaginal specimens for fetal fibronectin testing. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008;199:131
  16. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG practice bulletin no. 31: assessment of risk factors for preterm birth. Obstet Gynecol. 2001;98:709–716
  17. Iams JD, Goldenberg RL, Mercer BM, et al. The Preterm Prediction Study: recurrence risk of spontaneous preterm birth: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1998;178:1035–1040
  18. Berghella V, Odibo AO, To MS, Rust OA, Althuisius SM. Cerclage for short cervix on ultrasonography: meta-analysis of trials using individual patient-level data. Obstet Gynecol. 2005;106:181–189
  19. Crowther CA. Hospitalisation and bed rest for multiple pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;1:CD000110
  20. Rouse DJ, Caritis SN, Peaceman AM, et al. A trial of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate to prevent prematurity in twins. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:454–461
  21. Fonseca EB, Celik E, Parra M, Singh M, Nicolaides KH Fetal Medicine Foundation Second Trimester Screening Group. Progesterone and the risk of preterm birth among women with a short cervix. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:462–469

 Authorship and contribution to the article is limited to the 6 authors indicated. There was no outside funding or technical assistance with the production of this article.

 Cite this article as: Fox NS, Saltzman DH, Klauser CK, et al. Prediction of spontaneous preterm birth in asymptomatic twin pregnancies with the use of combined fetal fibronectin and cervical length. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;201:313.e1-5.

PII: S0002-9378(09)00640-1

doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2009.06.018

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 201, Issue 3 , Pages 313.e1-313.e5 , September 2009

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