title: Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and prolactin assays in cervicovaginal secretions as a predictor of preterm delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and to compare the predictive value of cervicovaginal beta-hCG and prolactin levels in spontaneous preterm delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The preterm labor group and normal pregnancy group consisted of 17 and 43 patients between 24 and 36 weeks' gestation, respectively. A single cervicovaginal beta-hCG and prolactin measurement were made in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cervicovaginal beta-hCG and prolactin levels were significantly higher in the preterm group when compared with those of the term delivery group (P=0.031, P=0.026, respectively). The optimal cut-off value for beta-hCG (27.1 mIU/ml) gave a sensitivity level of 87.5% (47.4-97.9; 95% C.I.) at a specificity of 65.4% (50.9-78.0; 95% C.I.) with positive and negative predictive values of 28% and 97%, respectively. The optimal cut-off value for prolactin (1.8 ng/ml) gave a sensitivity level of 50% (16.0-84.0; 95% C.I.) at a specificity of 96% (86.8-99.4; 95% C.I.) with positive and negative predictive values of 67% and 93%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervicovaginal beta-hCG measurement in patients with preterm labor may be used as a predictive test. Cervicovaginal prolactin is not a sensitive test compared with the beta-hCG test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine, 58140 Sivas, Turkey. tguvenal@ttnet.net.tr
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guvenal
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kantas
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erselcan
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Culhaoglu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cetin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D010298:Parity; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011388:Prolactin / Q000032:analysis*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D011388:Prolactin