Analysis of the value of fetal fibronectin, human chorionic gonadotropin combined with maternal cervical length in predicting premature infants in middle and late pregnancy

ObjectiveTo analyze the value of fetal fibronectin(fFN), human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG) in combination with cervical length in predicting premature infants in middle and late pregnancy.

MethodsA total of 174 pregnant women with risk factors of preterm delivery were divided into the preterm delivery group and control group according to the occurrence of preterm delivery.The fFN and hCG in cervical and vaginal secretions were detected using colloidal gold assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the cervical length was measured using vaginal ultrasound.The value of single index and three combined indexes in predicting premature infants were analyzed.

ResultsAmong the 174 pregnant women with risk factors of preterm birth, 45(25.9%) cases were born prematurely, which included 5 cases with pregnancy 28-30 weeks, 6 cases with pregancy 31-33 weeks and 34 cases with pregnancy 34-37 weeks, and no abortion occurred.The proportions of infection and hypertension during pregnancy in preterm delivery group were higher than those in control group(P < 0.05).The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of vaginal fluid fFN predicting premature or full-term delivery were 76.4%(133/174), 75.5%(34/45) and 76.7%(99/129), respectively, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of vaginal fluid hCG predicting premature or full-term delivery were 69.5%(121/174), 64.4%(29/45), 71.3%(92/129), respectively, and the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the cervical length predicting premature or full-term delivery were 80.5%(140/174), 82.2%(37/45), and 79.8%(103/129), respectively.Among the single test, the value of cervical length was of the highest value in predicting the occurrence of preterm delivery in pregnant women with risk factors for preterm delivery.The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the cervical length combined with vaginal fluid fFN and hCG in predicting preterm delivery or full-term delivery were 88.5%(154/174), 91.1%(41/45) and 87.6% (113/129), respectively.

ConclusionsThe cervical length in pregnant women with risk factors for preterm delivery in middle and late pregnancy can predict preterm delivery.In addition, the vaginal fluid fFN also has a certain value for the prediction of preterm delivery.The combination of vaginal fluid fFN, hCG and cervical length has the highest accuracy and significant value in the prediction of preterm delivery.