Prediction of preterm labor among among pregnant women at risk in Zagazig University Hospital

This study was performed on 24 pregnant women with 30-36 weeks of gestation as a study group and another 24 patients with the same age of gestation as a control group. The study revealed that a cervical length measurement is a good predictor of preterm delivery in patients with signs of premature labor with intact membranes. The predictive value of the combination of cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin and the measurements of the cervical length in the prediction of preterm delivery for patients at risk for preterm labor with intact membranes showed a sensitivity of 16.7%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100% and a negative predictive value of 28.6%. There was a significantly longer delivery interval among women who had negative test results compared with those with positive results. There was a significant reduction of gestational age at delivery in preterm birth women with positive fetal fibronectin test results compared with those with negative test results. There was also a significant reduction in the birth weight and Apgar scoring among women with positive fetal fibronectin test results compared with those with negative test results. There was a positive correlation between the mean cervical length and the mean cervical dilatation in patients who delivered preterm and those who delivered at term