Threatened preterm labour: can biophysical profile predict its outcome?

Sixty pregnant women between 28-37 weeks with threatened preterm labor were evaluated by the ultrasound to determine the role of biophysical profile in the prediction of outcome of preterm labor. Out of the 60 women, 24 cases delivered prematurely. Out of these 24 women, 20 cases delivered within 48 hours of cessation of fetal breathing movements. For prediction of preterm labor, there was no correlation between the total score of biophysical profile and the rate of preterm labor; while there was a significant correlation between the absence of fetal breathing movements and the occurrence of preterm labor