title: International Session Award. Non-invasive cutaneous cardiovascular dynamics (CVD) as a predictor of preterm delivery: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the clinical value of cardiovascular dynamics (CVD) pattern of 'positive cycling' in predicting true preterm labor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with a clinical diagnosis of preterm labor had CVD measurement with a non-invasive miniature pressure transducer applied to the fingertip concomitantly with uterine activity monitoring. Based on previous work by our group, the rapid ejection time (RET) reflects arterial compliance; an elevated RET is suggestive of vasoconstriction. Positive cycling is present when the RET shows elevation with uterine contractions and negative cycling is present when there are no changes in the RET with uterine contractions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-seven women had negative CVD cycling and nine had positive CVD cycling. There was no difference between the two groups in initial gestational age, cervical effacement or cervical dilation at testing. However, the mean interval from testing to delivery was 1.56 (SEM+/-0.29) days for positive cycling and 39 days (+/-5.25) for negative cycling (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-invasive cardiovascular patterns of positive cycling appear predictive of preterm delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King/Drew Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90059, USA. DOOGUNYE@CDREWU.EDU
authors.forename: Dotun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ogunyemi
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Teiichiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014590:Uterine Contraction