Authors : S. Abasalizadeh , F. Abasalizadeh and F. Sahaf
Abstract: The chance of predicting a preterm delivery may be the keystone to preventing or at least best management of it. The aim of our study, was to test the possibility of using vaginal -HCG level measurement to predict the spontaneous preterm delivery. In this prospective study, 150 pregnant women referred for prenatal care to Asadabadi university hospital clinic were studied. At a gestational age of 20-28 weeks, a cotton tip swab was placed into the endocervix and posterior vaginal fornix and sent to laboratory for -HCG measurement. Data were entered into the computer and analyzed using SPSS 11 and medcalc 8 Statistical software packages. Mean age of participants was 26 years (±25.9). Mean gestational age at time of sampling was 25 weeks. The relative risk of developing a preterm delivery for those having a vaginal -HCG above 30 mIU mL 1 was calculated to be 2.61 (95% CI: 1.25-5.5). The relative risk of developing a preterm delivery for vaginal -HCG level above 45 mIU mL 1 was 4.5 (95% CI: 1.98-10.1). The test for a cutoff value of 45 was quite specific and half sensitive with a negative predictive value of 95.4%. A cervicovaginal -HCG test with a cutt off value of 45 mIU mL 1 can predict the preterm delivery, but a combination screening of cervicovaginal -HCG test along with clinical risk factor scoring for preterm delivery is suggested to be used in clinical practice.
S. Abasalizadeh , F. Abasalizadeh and F. Sahaf , 2007. Cervicovaginal -HCG Test in Prediction of Spontaneous Preterm Delivery among Normal Pregnant Women. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 2: 630-633.