title: Noninvasive uterine electromyography for prediction of preterm delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Power spectrum (PS) of uterine electromyography (EMG) can identify true labor. EMG propagation velocity (PV) to diagnose labor has not been reported. The objective was to compare uterine EMG against current methods to predict preterm delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  EMG was recorded in 116 patients (preterm labor, n = 20; preterm nonlabor, n = 68; term labor, n = 22; term nonlabor, n = 6). A Student t test was used to compare EMG values for labor vs nonlabor (P < .05, significant). Predictive values of EMG, Bishop score, contractions on tocogram, and transvaginal cervical length were calculated using receiver-operator characteristics analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PV was higher in preterm and term labor compared with nonlabor (P < .001). Combined PV and PS peak frequency predicted preterm delivery within 7 days with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.96. Bishop score, contractions, and cervical length had an AUC of 0.72, 0.67, and 0.54.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uterine EMG PV and PS peak frequency more accurately identify true preterm labor than clinical methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 445 N. 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA.
authors.forename: Miha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucovnik
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Maner
authors.forename: Linda R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Chambliss
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blumrick
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balducci
authors.forename: Ziva
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Novak-Antolic
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Garfield
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014590:Uterine Contraction; D018590:Uterine Monitoring; D055815:Young Adult