title: Maternal characteristics and cervical length in the prediction of spontaneous early preterm delivery in twins.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the value of combining maternal characteristics and measurement of cervical length at 22 to 24 weeks in the prediction of spontaneous early preterm delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cervical length was measured by transvaginal sonography at 22 to 24 weeks in 1163 twin pregnancies attending for routine antenatal care. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the effect of maternal demographic characteristics and cervical length on the risk of spontaneous early preterm delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of spontaneous delivery before 32 weeks was 6.5%. The rate of early delivery was inversely related to cervical length, and for a false-positive rate of 10%, the detection rate of early delivery was 65.3%. The respective detection rate for maternal characteristics and obstetric history was 26.4%. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the only significant independent predictor of spontaneous early delivery was cervical length.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In twins, the prediction of spontaneous early preterm delivery by measurement of cervical length at 22 to 24 weeks is not improved by maternal characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King's College Hospital Medical School, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Meekai S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: To
authors.forename: Eduardo B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: Francisca S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cacho
authors.forename: Kypros H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Nicolaides
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors; D014427:Twins; D014463:Ultrasonography