title: Spontaneous Preterm Birth in Multiples.
abstract: The number of multiple gestations has increased over the last several decades and preterm birth is one of the leading causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality for these pregnancies. While screening and treatment strategies have achieved moderate success in singleton gestations, screening strategies are less effective in multiple gestations. In addition, to date no intervention aimed at preventing preterm birth has been conclusively shown to either prolong gestation or improve neonatal outcomes for multiple gestations. As in singleton gestations, cervical length is one of the strongest predictors of preterm birth. While not conclusive, emerging data suggest that vaginal progesterone or cervical pessary may be able to prevent preterm birth in twin gestations with a short cervix.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Biggio
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D023802:Cerclage, Cervical; D054791:Cervical Length Measurement; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010570:Pessaries; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011372:Progestins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: C403421:FFN protein, human; D005353:Fibronectins; D011372:Progestins; D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D011374:Progesterone