title: [Prognostic value of chosen parameters of mechanical and bioelectrical uterine activity in prediction of threatening preterm labour].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To record and analyse bioelectrical activity of the uterine muscle in the course of physiological pregnancy, labour and threatening premature labour; to define which parameters from the analysis of both electrohysterogram and mechanical activity signal allow us to predict threatening premature labour.
  
  
  METHODS
  Material comprised 62 pregnant women: Group I--27 patients in their first physiological pregnancy, Group II--21 patients in their first pregnancy with symptoms of threatening premature labour, and Group III--14 patients in the first labour period. The on-line analysis of the mechanical (TOCO) and electrical (EHG) contraction activity relied on determination of quantitative parameters of detected uterine contractions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The obtained statistical results demonstrated a possibility to differentiate between Group I and II through the amplitude and contraction area for EHG signal, and only the contraction amplitude for TOCO signal. Additionally, significant differentiating parameters for electrohysterogram are: contraction power and its median frequency. Analyzing Group I and III, significant differences were noted for contraction amplitude and area obtained both from EHG and TOCO signals. Similarly, the contraction power (from EHG) enables us to assign the contractions either to records from Group I or to labour type. There was no significant difference noted between Group II and III.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Identification of pregnant women at risk of premature labour should lead to their inclusion in rigorous perinatal surveillance. This requires novel, more sensitive methods that are able to detect early symptoms of the uterine contraction activity increase. Electrohysterography provides complete information on principles of bioelectrical uterine activity. Quantitative parameters of EHG analysis enable the detection of records (contractions) with the symptoms of premature uterine contraction activity.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Połoznictwa i Ginekologii SUM, Katowice. jerzyzietek@interia.pl
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zietek
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sikora
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horoba
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matonia
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jezewski
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magnucki
authors.forename: Lucyna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kobielska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011044:Poland; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018590:Uterine Monitoring / Q000379:methods*