Can Fetal Fibronectin Be Used To Predict Preterm Delivery?
By Katherine Hasal Special to DG News PHILADELPHIA, PA — May 18, 1999 — An in-hospital biochemical test to measure fetal fibronectin, in conjunction with evaluation of other risk factors, are effective in predicting the risk of preterm delivery. These findings were presented by Safrir Neuwirth, MD, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, N.Y., at the 47th annual meeting of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), in Philadelphia, PA. Fetal fibronectin, a glue-like compound that connects the amniotic sac to the inner wall of the uterus during pregnancy, can be measured using a Pap smear-like test that was recently approved by the FDA. Normally, fetal fibronectin is not present in the birth canal until there has been a disturbance between the uterus and the amniotic sac. In this study, 103 consecutive women with intact membranes presenting in preterm labour (less than 35 weeks) were evaluated using a preterm labour protocol and the fetal fibronectin test. Fetal fibronec
Related Questions
- Does Fetal Fibronectin and Ultrasound Cervical Length Help in the Evaluation of Women With Suspected Preterm Labor?
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