The effect of treatment with 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate on changes in cervical length over time.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine whether women who were treated with 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC) to prevent recurrent preterm birth experienced a change in cervical shortening over time, compared with women who were not treated.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective exposure cohort study of women who were enrolled in a prematurity prevention clinic from 1999-2008 with a singleton pregnancy with > or =1 previous spontaneous preterm births (<37 weeks of gestation) who underwent > or =2 cervical length measurements by endovaginal ultrasound.


RESULTS
Of 200 women, 105 women received treatment with 17-OHPC; 95 women did not. Women who were treated with 17-OHPC were more likely to have experienced a previous preterm birth (26.0 vs 27.8 weeks; P = .01) than those who were not treated with 17-OHPC. There was no difference in the average weekly change in cervical length among women treated with 17-OHPC, compared with those who were not, after adjustment for covariates (0.79 mm/week; 95% confidence interval, -1.18 to 2.76).


CONCLUSIONS
There was no difference in the average weekly change in cervical length measurements over time in women who underwent 17-OHPC treatment, compared with those who were not treated.
Durnwald
Celeste P
CP
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. Celeste.durnwald@osumc.edu
Lynch
Courtney D
CD
Walker
Hetty
H
Iams
Jay D
JD
D000077713:17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000517:prevention & control; D011372:Progestins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D011372:Progestins; D000077713:17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate