Combined insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1/interleukin-6 (Premaquick) versus fetal fibronectin for predicting preterm delivery among women with preterm contractions.

OBJECTIVES: To compare accuracy between Premaquick (combined test for native insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), total IGFBP-1, and interleukin-6) and fetal fibronectin (Ffn) in predicting preterm delivery. METHODS: Prospective study among women at 28-36+6 gestational weeks with threatened preterm labor attending Federal Medical Center, Owerri, Nigeria, from August 2017 to February 2019. Cervico-vaginal fluids were collected and tested by Premaquick and Ffn tests. The women were followed for 14 days. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative (NPV) and positive (PPV) predictive value for delivery were compared between the tests. RESULTS: Among 213 women assessed for eligibility, 183 were enrolled and 175 completed the study. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of the Premaquick versus Ffn tests were, respectively, 96.3% versus 51.9%, 97.6% versus 98.4%, 89.7% versus 87.5%, 99.2% versus 90.3% and 97.3% versus 90.0% for preterm delivery within 14 days. Ffn had higher specificity (98.5% vs 97.8%; P>0.99), but Premaquick had higher PPV (92.7% vs 90.9%; P>0.99). CONCLUSION: Both tests seem to have high utility in predicting preterm delivery, but Premaquick showed higher accuracy in terms of sensitivity and PPV. Premaquick might be a feasible alternative to Ffn for predicting preterm delivery among symptomatic women in a low-income setting.

Premaquick© versus modified Bishop score for preinduction cervical assessment at term: A double-blind randomized trial.

AIM: To test whether Premaquick biomarkers were superior to modified Bishop score for preinduction cervical assessment at term. METHODS: A multicenter, double-blind randomized clinical trial in 151 nulliparous, cephalic presenting and singleton pregnancies was conducted. The cervix was considered 'ripe' when at least two out of three Premaquick biomarkers are positive or a Bishop score of ≥6. Main outcome measures were proportion of women who were administered or had additional prostaglandin E1 analogue (PGE1) as a preinduction agent and incidence of uterine rupture. The trial was registered in PACTR registry with approval number PACTR201604001592143. Analysis was performed by intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: The need for initial PGE1 analogue (77.6% vs 98.7%, risk ratio [RR] =0.47, 95% confidence intervals [95% CI] =0.38-0.59, P < 0.001) and additional PGE1 analogue for cervical ripening after one insertion (44.7% vs 68.0%, RR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.46-0.86, P = 0.004) was significantly lower in Premaquick group. There was no significant difference in incidence of uterine rupture (0% vs 1.4%, RR = 0.000, P = 0.324); however, the frequency of transition to labor was statistically higher in Premaquick group (44.7% vs 22.7%, RR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.17-2.15, P = 0.004). Interval from start of induction to any type of delivery, need for oxytocin augmentation, vaginal delivery, number of women with cesarean section for failed induction and number of infants admitted to neonatal intensive care unit were similar between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Preinduction cervical assessment with Premaquick was significantly associated with higher frequency of transition to labor and reduced need for PGE1 analogue when compared to modified Bishop score. Further similar trials in other settings are necessary to strengthen or refute this observation.