title: Biophysical and Biochemical Screening for the Risk of Preterm Labor: An Update.
abstract: The heterogeneous causes of spontaneous preterm birth make prediction and prevention difficult. Recently developed biochemical and biophysical tests add significantly to clinicians' ability to evaluate and treat women at risk for spontaneous preterm birth. The primary importance of transvaginal cervical sonography and cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin lies in the high negative predictive values of the tests for preterm delivery risk. Cervical length may be useful in identifying women who are candidates for cervical cerclage or progesterone therapy for preterm birth prevention. Together, cervical length and fibronectin can be used in the triaging of women symptomatic for preterm labor.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME 04102, USA. Electronic address: waxj@mmc.org.
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wax
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME 04102, USA.
authors.forename: Angelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cartin
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME 04102, USA.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pinette
mesh_terms: D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone
keywords: Cervical cerclage; Cervical length; Fetal fibronectin; Preterm birth; Progesterone; Ultrasound