ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to determine the value of cervical insulin-like growth factor- binding protein-1 assay for the prediction of preterm labor in high-risk women. Thirty pregnant women at high risk for preterm labor were studied by serial cervical insulin-like growth factor - binding protein -1 assay between 26-36 weeks of gestation. The presence of cervical insulin-like growth factor-binding protein -1 in cervical secretions was compared to preterm labor. The preterm delivery rate was 40%. Cervical insulin-like growth factor- binding protein-1 was positive in 10/12 of women delivering preterm and in 7/18 of women delivering at term. As a prediction for preterm birth before 37 weeks, the presence of cervical insulin-like growth factor-binding protein- 1 showed a sensitivity of 83.3%, a specificity of 61.1%, a positive predictive value of 58.8% and a negative predictive value of 84.6%