Fetal fibronectin in the cervical secretion predicts accurately the onset of labor at term.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to check if presence of fetal fibronectin in the cervical secretion of full term patient predicts accurately the onset of labour at term.


METHODS
78 women in the term period were included in the study, serial samples for fetal fibronectin were assessed, each patient underwent spontaneous labour, delay between last sample and delivery were analysed.


RESULTS
Patient with positive fetal fibronectin delivered within 3 +/- 1.9 days where as patient with negative fetal fibronectin delivered within 5.7 +/- 3.9 days (P = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Presence of fetal fibronectin in cervical secretions seems to be a powerful tool to predict in a short delay the onset of labour at term, it should be used in conjunction with clinical and fetal assessment data.
Luton
D
D
Service de Maternité, Hôpital Robert-Debré, Paris, France.
Guibourdenche
J
J
Sibony
O
O
Braig
S
S
Benzakine
Y
Y
Oury
J F
JF
Porquet
D
D
Blot
P
P
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007745:Labor Onset / Q000378:metabolism*; D016015:Logistic Models; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D013997:Time Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins