title: The diagnosis and management of preterm labor.
abstract: Accurate diagnosis of preterm labor remains a problematic issue. New techniques such as transvaginal cervical sonography and fetal fibronectin are increasingly important in diagnosis and intervention planning. Neither test can, at present, be recommended for screening of the general population since there is no effective intervention for a positive test. Future directions in research include development of new tocolytic agents such as COX-2 inhibitors and clarification of the best use of adjunctive therapies such as betamethasone for lung maturity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health, Columbus 43210, USA.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Shellhaas
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Iams
mesh_terms: D001510:Bed Rest; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015145:Tocolysis; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D018590:Uterine Monitoring