title: Assessment of fetal fibronectin in cervical secretion in cases of equivocal rupture of the membranes at term.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate if the presence of fibronectin in cervical secretion might provide information on the natural course of equivocal prelabor rupture of membranes (ROM) at term.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixteen women with a history of prelabor ROM at term but without visible amniotic fluid leakage were included in the study. The presence of fetal fibronectin in cervical secretion was determined by a commercially available kit (ROM check; limit of detection 100 ng/ml). Women with (n=49) and without (n=67) a positive fibronectin test were compared with regard to time interval between presumed membrane rupture and delivery, mode of delivery and fetal distress rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the time interval between presumed ROM and delivery between those with a negative fibronectin test (median: 80 hours) and those with a positive test (median: 64 hours; p=0.28, Mann-Whitney U-test). Neither were there any differences in complicated delivery or fetal distress rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Determination of fetal fibronectin in cervical secretion with the present method is of limited value in the clinical management of patients with equivocal rupture of the membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Insitute, Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nisell
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hagskog
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Westgren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000378:metabolism; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins