title: Bacterial vaginosis diagnosed at the first antenatal visit better predicts preterm labour than diagnosis later in pregnancy.
abstract: This study was conducted as part of a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial, the aim of which was to determine whether vitamin C could reduce the recurrence risk of pre-term labour. In this study, women with a history of pre-term labour in a preceding pregnancy were randomised to receive either 250 mg vitamin C or a matching placebo twice daily until 34 weeks' gestation. They attended a dedicated pre-term labour clinic every 2 weeks. All women were screened for bacterial vaginosis (BV) at each visit. It was first determined that vitamin C did not have any effect on the presence of BV. Women who were diagnosed with BV before 20 weeks' gestation were at higher risk of delivering pre-term than those who developed BV after 20 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tygerberg Hospital, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. jeannes@sun.ac.za
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schoeman
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Steyn
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Odendaal
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grové
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid