Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “preterm labor”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Immunoendocrinology of preterm labor: the link between corticotropin-releasing hormone and inflammation.

Preterm labor is the final common pathway after several potential insults to the uterus or fetus. The preterm labor syndrome may be precipitated by several different pathophysiologic events, including intrauterine infection, uterine ischemia, uterine overdistention, hormonal disturbances, and other problems. Intrauterine infections (both clinically evident and subclinical) are associated with increased amniotic fluid concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines, and gestational tissues and the fetus are potential sources of these cytokines. In addition to culture-proven intrauterine infection, there may be an "intrauterine inflammatory response syndrome" that could account for cases of preterm labor in which no infectious organism can be identified. Because the immunologic and endocrinologic systems regulate each other extensively, there is potential for corticotropin-releasing hormone to regulate inflammatory responses and vice versa. The cytokine interleukin 1 stimulates production of corticotropin-releasing hormone, and corticotropin-releasing hormone in turn regulates cytokine production by immune effector cells. Because maternal stress is associated with preterm birth, abnormalities in the regulation of corticotropin-releasing hormone and the production of inflammatory cytokines may be a mechanism that could form the pathophysiologic basis for this association.

Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone↗
PubMed1993

The relationship between cadmium and lead burdens and preterm labor.

OBJECTIVE: To study the possible involvement of lead and cadmium in mechanisms of preterm labor. METHOD: Estimations of lead and cadmium in blood, myometrium and placenta of Swedish and Polish women in preterm labor (n = 17) or delivered at term (n = 13). RESULT: There was a positive correlation between pregnancy week and content of lead in blood. The mean blood concentration of cadmium in preterm delivered women, 2.0 micrograms/l, was significantly higher than that in term delivered patients, 0.6 microgram/l. In Polish patients the concentration of lead in blood, 37.9 micrograms/l, was higher than that in Swedish women of 11.2 micrograms/l. Cadmium concentrations in myometrium and placenta of Polish women, 0.2 and 0.3 microgram/g, respectively, were also significantly higher than the corresponding concentrations in Swedish patients, 0.04 and 0.1 microgram/g and this difference remained when only nonsmokers were compared. Smokers and nonsmokers did not have significantly different cadmium levels. CONCLUSION: These results do not support the concept of lead causing increased myometrial activity in preterm labor, but indicate a higher uptake of lead and cadmium of Polish than of Swedish women. Further investigations are warranted to delineate the importance of the elevated concentration of cadmium in the blood of women with preterm labor.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Atosiban and nifedipin for the treatment of preterm labor.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a comparison between atosiban (oxytocin antagonist) and nifedipin (calcium channel blocker) for acute treatment of preterm labor and their maternal safety. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial study was performed on 80 pregnant women with preterm labor, between 26 and 34 weeks of pregnancy, in Akbar Abadi Teaching Hospital in Tehran, Iran. 40 women (the atosiban group) were compared with another 40 women (the nifedipin group) for the drugs' efficacy in delaying delivery for more than 48 h in order to undergo steroid therapy, and for more than 7 days or more, and also to assess their maternal safety. The duration between the drugs' administration and delivery were compared. The statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the treatment of preterm labor. Atosiban was effective in 82.5% of cases, and nifedipin in 75% of the cases (p=1.000), for delaying delivery for 48 h. Atosiban was effective in 75% of the cases, and nifedipin in 65% of the cases, for delaying delivery for more than 7 days. The maternal side effects in the atosiban group were 17.5%, and in the nifedipin group they were 40%, which had a statistically significant difference (p=0.027). The duration between treatment and delivery was 29.03+/-16.12 days in the atosiban group and 22.85+/-13.9 days in the nifedipin group with no statistically significant difference (p=0.79). CONCLUSION: Atosiban is an effective and safe drug for the acute treatment of preterm labor with minimal side effects, and it can be an option in the treatment of preterm labor, especially in patients with heart disease and multi-fetal pregnancies.

Female↗
PubMed2006

Uterine transcriptomes of bacteria-induced and ovariectomy-induced preterm labor in mice are characterized by differential expression of arachidonate metabolism genes.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify changes in gene expression that are associated with preterm labor induced by either bacteria or ovariectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant mice (14.5 days of gestation) were allocated to: (1) intrauterine injection of heat-inactivated Escherichia coli; (2) media alone; (3) ovariectomy; or (4) sham operation. The uterine transcriptome was studied with photolithographic, very short oligonucleotide-based microarrays, and arachidonate metabolism genes were assayed with quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Significance was determined by analysis of variance. RESULTS: Microarray-based gene expression changes in the arachidonate metabolism pathway are associated globally with bacteria-induced preterm labor (P < or = .0031) and ovariectomy-induced preterm labor (P < or = .00036). Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction measurements demonstrated that bacteria-induced preterm labor substantially increased the expression of genes involved in prostaglandin synthesis. In contrast, ovariectomy-induced preterm labor increased the expression of genes involved in lipoxin, leukotriene, and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid synthesis. CONCLUSION: Bacteria-induced and ovariectomy-induced preterm labor each express a different balance of genes that are required for the synthesis of prostaglandins, lipoxins, leukotrienes, and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacilli in the vaginal flora of pregnant women with preterm labor with intact membranes.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of vaginal infection in preterm delivery, we studied characteristics of vaginal discharge related to hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacilli. METHODS: Vaginal specimens were obtained from 66 women with normal pregnancy and 30 women with preterm labor with intact membranes. pH, leukocyte counts on wet smear, and scores by Nugent criteria on Gram stain were measured. Lactobacilli were tested for their production of hydrogen peroxide. RESULTS: Leukocyte levels in wet smears and Nugent scores of Gram-stained smear of women with preterm labor with intact membranes were significantly higher than those of normal pregnant women (P<0.01, P<0.05). Hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacilli levels in the vaginal flora of women with preterm labor with intact membranes were significantly lower (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Distribution of hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacilli in vaginal flora as defense factors for infection may have an important role in the pathophysiology of preterm labor.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The preterm labor experience: a balancing act.

The purpose of the study was to identify how women described, interpreted, and managed their preterm labor experience. Ten married, middle-class women participated in an in-depth, tape-recorded interview in the hospital after preterm labor was stabilized; periodically over the telephone after discharge from the hospital; and in the hospital, home, or via telephone after birth, for a total of 31 interviews. Using qualitative data analysis techniques, the findings were conceptualized as five recursive stages: becoming aware that something was wrong and feeling unbalanced, making sense of the experience as they sought to understand why preterm labor occurred, trying different strategies to re-create a balance in their lives, addressing other life stressors that threatened restoring balance, and emerging from the preterm labor experience with added growth. An increased understanding of the preterm labor experience from the women's perspective can be helpful to health care professionals and others who support women during pregnancy.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2003

Ultrasound assessment of cervical length in threatened preterm labor.

OBJECTIVE: More than 70% of women presenting with threatened preterm labor do not progress to active labor and delivery. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that in women with threatened preterm labor, sonographic measurement of cervical length helps distinguish between true and false labor. METHODS: We examined 216 women with singleton pregnancies presenting with regular and painful uterine contractions at 24-36 (mean, 32) weeks of gestation. Women in active labor, defined by the presence of cervical dilatation > or = 3 cm, and those with ruptured membranes were excluded. On admission to the hospital a transvaginal scan was performed to measure the cervical length. The subsequent management was determined by the attending obstetrician. The primary outcome was delivery within 7 days of presentation. RESULTS: In 173 cases the cervical length was > or = 15 mm and only one of these women delivered within 7 days. In the 43 cases with cervical length < 15 mm delivery within 7 days of presentation occurred in 16 (37%) including 6/14 (42%) treated with tocolytics and 10/29 (35%) managed expectantly. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the only significant contributor in the prediction of delivery within 7 days was cervical length < 15 mm (odds ratio = 101, 95% CI 12-800, P < 0.0001) with no significant contribution from ethnic group, maternal age, gestational age, body mass index, parity, previous history of preterm delivery, cigarette smoking, contraction frequency or use of tocolytics. CONCLUSIONS: In women with threatened preterm labor, sonographic measurement of cervical length helps distinguish between true and false labor.

Abortion, Threatened↗
PubMed1993

Antibiotics in the treatment of preterm labor.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical evidence for a relationship between chorioamnionitis and the onset of preterm labor, supported by well developed biochemical models of that interaction, motivated a review of prospective, randomized trials of antibiotic use in its prevention. STUDY DESIGN: A literature search was made of antibiotic trials applied to women at risk for preterm labor and with a clinical diagnosis of preterm labor after premature preterm rupture of membranes. A review of two retrospective case-control studies conducted on pregnant women with positive cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis is also included. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Results of antibiotic use in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes supports significant prolongation of the interval from rupture of membranes to delivery and improvement and neonatal outcome in treated patients.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2003

Failure of physiologic transformation of the spiral arteries in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether abnormal placentation (defined as the failure of physiologic transformation of spiral arteries) is present in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes who delivered a preterm neonate. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the histopathologic findings in the placental bed and placenta of patients with preterm labor and intact membranes (n=27), preeclampsia (n=43), and healthy pregnant women at term (n=103). Immunohistochemistry studies with cytokeratin 7 and periodic acid-Schiff were used to detect trophoblast and fibrinoid, respectively, and diagnose the failure of physiologic transformation of the spiral arteries. RESULTS: The mean percentage of spiral arteries with failure of physiologic transformation in the myometrium was significantly higher in patients with preterm labor and preeclampsia than in normal pregnant women at term (P=.0004 and P<.0001, respectively). Similar findings were observed in the decidual segment of spiral arteries within the placental bed (P=.001 and P<.0001). In contrast, the mean percentage of the spiral arteries with failure of physiologic transformation in the decidua of the basal plate was not significantly different between patients with preterm labor and normal pregnant women (P=.17). CONCLUSION: Failure of physiologic transformation of the spiral arteries in the myometrial and decidual segments of the placental bed is frequent in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Procalcitonin in cervicovaginal secretion in pregnancies complicated by preterm labor--a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVES: Although the usefulness of procalcitonin (PCT) in clinical practice is increasing, no data are available on procalcitonin during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether procalcitonin was present in the cervicovaginal secretion of pregnant women and, if so, to evaluate the practical value of determining the concentration. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 53 patients in whom preterm labor (PTL) was expected and 31 healthy pregnant women were enrolled in this study. In the preterm labor group procalcitonin concentrations were analyzed with reference to laboratory indices suggestive of infection. The outcome of pregnancy was recorded in each case, with mention of the gestational age at delivery and of the time between admission to hospital and delivery. RESULTS: Concentrations of procalcitonin in the preterm labor group were comparable to those in the healthy pregnant women. In the preterm labor group no significant correlations were observed between procalcitonin concentration and laboratory indices of infection. Nor were any correlations observed between procalcitonin concentration at the onset of preterm labor and gestational age either at the onset of labor or at delivery. However, procalcitonin concentrations at the onset of preterm labor were higher in patients who delivered prematurely than in those who delivered near term after treatment to delay labor. Procalcitonin concentrations in women whose babies were delivered within 3, 7 and 14 days of admission and in those whose babies were born at later times were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, procalcitonin was determined in the cervicovaginal secretion of pregnant women for the first time. However, no association was observed either between procalcitonin concentration at the onset of preterm labor and laboratory signs of infection or between procalcitonin concentration and time between admission to hospital and delivery. Procalcitonin determination would be unsatisfactory as a prognostic indicator of the length of time between admission to hospital and delivery.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Early signs and symptoms of preterm labor.

Patient and staff education concerning the subtle signs and symptoms that precede a clinical diagnosis of preterm labor have not been well established. Therefore we interviewed 100 patients for the presence or absence of various symptoms and signs during the 7 days preceding diagnosis of preterm labor. An additional 100 patients without preterm labor matched for gestation were chosen at random as control subjects. A history of increased uterine contractions, menstrual cramps, constant backache, constant pelvic pressure, increased amount and consistency and color change of vaginal discharge, and increased frequency of urination were present with a statistically significant higher frequency in patients with preterm labor compared with controls. Twenty-nine percent of patients did not report any uterine contractions and only half described them as painful. Fewer than 50% of the women reported contractions as frequently as every 10 minutes or more.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Neonatal effects of nifedipine and ritodrine for preterm labor.

OBJECTIVE: We compared nifedipine and ritodrine for treatment of preterm labor with respect to neonatal outcome. METHODS: We conducted an open randomized multicenter study of neonatal outcome in 185 women who received either oral nifedipine (n = 95) or intravenous (IV) ritodrine (n = 90) for treatment of preterm labor. Secondary outcome measures included neonatal mortality and morbidity, especially neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and intracranial bleeding. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in umbilical artery pH values and Apgar scores between groups. Nifedipine was associated with lower admission rates to the NICU (49% versus 66%; odds ratio 0. 51, confidence interval 0.28, 0.93) compared with ritodrine, and lower incidences of RDS (21% versus 37%; 0.46, 0.24, 0.89), intracranial bleeding (18% versus 31%; 0.48, 0.24, 0.96), and neonatal jaundice (52% versus 67%; 0.53, 0.29, 0.97). Logistic regression analysis showed that even after correction for gestational age at birth, newborn risk of RDS, intracranial bleeding, or neonatal jaundice was significantly lower in the nifedipine group than the ritodrine group. CONCLUSION: Nifedipine for treatment of preterm labor was associated with a lower incidence of neonatal morbidity than ritodrine. That difference appeared to be partly because of the higher tocolytic efficacy of nifedipine and partly because of an intrinsic beneficial effect of nifedipine, or the lack of harmful effects when compared with ritodrine.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

A randomized comparison of home uterine activity monitoring in the outpatient management of women treated for preterm labor.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate home uterine activity monitoring as an intervention in reducing the rate of preterm birth among women treated for preterm labor. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 186 women were treated in the hospital with magnesium sulfate for preterm labor and were prospectively randomly assigned to study groups; among these, 162 were ultimately eligible for comparison. Eighty-two of these women were assigned to the monitored group and 80 were assigned to an unmonitored control group. Other than monitoring, all women received identical prenatal follow-up, including daily perinatal telephone contact and oral terbutaline therapy. Outcome comparisons were primarily directed toward evaluation of preterm birth at <35 weeks' gestation. Readmissions for recurrent preterm labor and observations lasting <24 hours were evaluated in monitored and unmonitored groups. Compliance with monitoring was also evaluated in the monitored group. RESULTS: The monitored and control groups were demographically similar. According to a multivariate logistic regression model, women with cervical dilatation of >/=2 cm were 4 times more likely to be delivered at <35 weeks' gestation (P <.05). Gestational ages at delivery were similar in the monitored and control groups. There was no significant difference in the overall rate of preterm delivery at <35 weeks' gestation between the monitored group (10.9%) and the control group (15.0%). The overall rates of delivery at <37 weeks' gestation were high (48.8% and 60.0% for monitored and control groups, respectively), and the difference was not significant. The numbers of women with >/=1 instance of readmission and treatment for recurrent preterm labor were equal in the monitored and control groups. The numbers of women with >/=1 hospital observation lasting <24 hours were not different between the groups. Compliance with monitoring did not significantly differ for women who were delivered at <35 weeks' gestation, women with >/=2 cm cervical dilatation at enrollment, or for African American women. CONCLUSION: A reduction in the likelihood of preterm delivery at <35 weeks' gestation was not further enhanced by the addition of home uterine monitoring to the outpatient management regimens of women treated for preterm labor.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Managing perinatal outcomes: the clinical benefit and cost-effectiveness of pharmacologic treatment of recurrent preterm labor.

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical benefit and cost-effectiveness of utilizing continuous subcutaneous terbutaline versus oral tocolytics following recurrent preterm labor. DESIGN: Retrospective, 1:1 matched cohort. METHODOLOGY: From prospectively collected data in a nationwide, perinatal database of women receiving outpatient services, we identified singleton gestations having recurrent preterm labor, stabilized during hospitalization, and subsequently treated with oral tocolytics (PO group) or continuous subcutaneous terbutaline infusion (SQ group). Those without medically indicated delivery were eligible for inclusion. Each woman in the PO group was matched 1:1 by gestational age at recurrent preterm labor to a woman in the SQ group. A standardized cost model was applied to compare total antepartum hospital, nursery, and outpatient charges. Wilcoxon Signed Rank, paired t, and McNemar's C2 test statistics were used for comparisons. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: 558 women were studied (279 per group). The PO group had less gestational gain following recurrent preterm labor than the SQ group (28.4 +/- 19.8 days vs. 33.9 +/- 19.0 days, respectively, P < .001). The SQ group had less per patient charges ($) for antepartum hospitalization (3,986 +/- 6,895 vs. 5,495 +/- 7,131, P = .009), and nursery (7,143 +/- 20,048 vs. 15,050 +/- 32,648, P < .001). Outpatient charges were less for the PO group (1,390 +/- 1,152 vs. 5,520 +/- 3,292, P < .001). Overall costs for those in the SQ group were $5,286 less per pregnancy compared to the PO group. CONCLUSION: In this population, continuous subcutaneous terbutaline infusion was both a clinically beneficial and cost-effective treatment following recurrent preterm labor.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Responses of pregnant women to potential preterm labor symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the knowledge that healthy pregnant women have of appropriate actions to take in response to hypothetical symptoms of preterm labor. DESIGN: This was a descriptive, correlational study using a convenience sample. SETTING: Subjects were recruited from the private practices of obstetricians and nurse-midwives. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred twenty pregnant women who were between 20 and 32 weeks gestation were asked to complete a 17-item demographic information sheet and an 18-item Health Pregnancy Questionnaire while waiting for prenatal visits. Questionnaires from 269 women were appropriate for analysis. RESULTS: Most respondents could select appropriate action responses to items that identified obvious symptoms of being in preterm labor. In response to three questions that posed hypothetical preterm labor symptoms that were more subtle or were similar to normally occurring discomforts of pregnancy, between 26% and 35% of the women selected a choice that would have delayed entry into care. With a 95% confidence interval, significant positive relationships were found between selecting best responses and having experienced a previous preterm labor and maternal age. CONCLUSION: This study supports the need for all pregnant women to receive information on identification of preterm labor symptoms and appropriate actions to take with regard to these symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Coping style and preterm labor.

Psychometric tests (State-Trait Anxiety Index and Utrechtse Coping Lijst) were administered to 23 primigravidae hospitalized for preterm labor and to 22 controls in order to investigate whether women with and without preterm labor present a different coping style or (in) effectiveness of this coping and whether the coping style predicts duration of hospitalization and gestational age at delivery. No significant differences in trait anxiety nor in coping style were found between women with and women without preterm labor. However, within the group of women with preterm labor, coping mechanisms are important predictors of course and outcome of the preterm contractions. Palliative coping and social support seeking are protective mechanisms while active coping has an adverse effect upon outcome: an older gestational age at the moment of delivery is for 44% predicted by a higher social support seeking and a lower active coping.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2005

The prevalence and clinical significance of amniotic fluid 'sludge' in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and clinical significance of amniotic fluid (AF) 'sludge' observed during transvaginal ultrasound examination of the cervix in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes, and in those with uncomplicated pregnancies. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with preterm labor and intact membranes (n = 84) and those with uncomplicated term pregnancies (n = 298). The outcome variables included the occurrence of documented microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC), histological chorioamnionitis, examination-to-delivery interval, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), a composite neonatal morbidity, perinatal death, and delivery within 48 h, 7 days, and < 35 weeks and < 32 weeks. Statistical analysis included Chi-square test, stepwise logistic regression analysis and survival analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of AF 'sludge' was 1% (3/298) in patients with uncomplicated term pregnancies and 22.6% (19/84) in those with preterm labor and intact membranes. Among patients with preterm labor and intact membranes: (1) cervical length < or = 15 mm was present in 58.3% (49/84) of the patients; (2) the prevalence of MIAC and histological chorioamnionitis was 12.1% (7/58) and 32.9% (25/76), respectively; (3) the rate of spontaneous preterm delivery within 48 h, 7 days, and < 32 weeks and < 35 weeks of gestation was 13.6% (8/59), 28.8% (17/59), 39.5% (17/43) and 50.8% (30/59), respectively; (4) patients with AF 'sludge' had a higher frequency of positive AF cultures [33.3% (6/18) vs. 2.5% (1/40), P = 0.003] and histological chorioamnionitis [77.8% (14/18) vs. 19% (11/58), P < 0.001] than those without AF 'sludge'; (5) a higher proportion of neonates born to patients with AF 'sludge' was admitted to the NICU [64.3% (9/14) vs. 12.9% (8/62), P < 0.01], had a composite neonatal morbidity [36.8% (7/19) vs. 13.8% (9/65), P = 0.04] and died in the perinatal period [36.8% (7/19) vs. 4.6% (3/65), P = 0.001] than those born to women without 'sludge'; (6) a higher proportion of patients with AF 'sludge' had spontaneous delivery within 48 h [42.9% (6/14) vs. 4.4% (2/45), P = 0.001], within 7 days [71.4% (10/14) vs. 15.6% (7/45), P < 0.001], < 32 weeks [75% (9/12) vs. 25.8% (8/31), P = 0.005] and < 35 weeks [92.9% (13/14) vs. 37.8% (17/45), P < 0.001] than those without AF 'sludge'; and (7) patients with AF 'sludge' had a shorter examination-to-delivery interval than those without AF 'sludge' [AF 'sludge' median, 1 (IQR, 1-5) days vs. no AF 'sludge' median, 33 (IQR, 18-58) days; P < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: The presence of AF 'sludge' in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes is a risk factor for MIAC, histological chorioamnionitis and impending preterm delivery.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Predictive value of fetal fibronectin for preterm labor].

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated fetal fibronectin levels for the diagnosis of preterm labor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 74 randomized patients who were admitted with the diagnosis of preterm labor. Cervical and vaginal fluid samples were washed in buffer solution prior to the introduction of a reactive strip. Results were interpreted after 10 sec. Patients with negative tests were admitted and followed up. Patients who tested positive were treated according to the protocols of each hospital. Finally, the specificity, sensitivity, predictive value, and odds ratio were determined. RESULTS: Results showed specificity, 90%; sensitivity, 70%; positive predictive value, 64%; negative predictive value, 78%; and odds ratio, 22; 50% were first pregnancies with gestational ages between 22 and 34 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: We consider that a positive fibronectin test is a useful, low-cost, and reliable tool for diagnosing preterm labor.

Adult↗