Fetal fibronectin and bacterial vaginosis are associated with preterm birth in women who are symptomatic for preterm labor

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 2004-06, Vol.190 (6), p.1582-1587
• Main Authors: Stevens, Amy O, Chauhan, Suneet P, Magann, Everett F, Martin, Rick W, Bofill, James A, Cushman, Julie L, Morrison, John C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Bacterial vaginosis; Biomarkers - analysis; Cohort Studies; Female; Fetal fibronectin; Fibronectins; Gestational Age; Glycoproteins - analysis; Glycoproteins - metabolism; Humans; Incidence; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Obstetric Labor, Premature - epidemiology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - epidemiology; Pregnancy Outcome; Preterm birth; Probability; Prospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Sensitivity and Specificity; Severity of Illness Index; Statistics, Nonparametric; Vaginosis, Bacterial - diagnosis; Vaginosis, Bacterial - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2004.03.059

The purpose of this study was to codify the relationship between bacterial vaginosis/fetal fibronectin and preterm labor/birth. In this prospective study, 185 women who were symptomatic for preterm labor were assessed for bacterial vaginosis and fetal fibronectin. These women comprised 4 groups: group A (n = 23 women; +bacterial vaginosis/+fetal fibronectin); group B (n = 31 women; −bacterial vaginosis/+fetal fibronectin); group C (n = 47 women; +bacterial vaginosis/−fetal fibronectin); and group D (n = 84 women; −bacterial vaginosis/−fetal fibronectin). The time interval from gestational age at testing until delivery was significantly shorter for groups A and B versus groups C and D ( P ≤ .05 and P < .001, respectively). Similarly, delivery at