The Use of Fetal Fibronectin and vaginal pH as new Laboratory Markers for Detection of Preterm Delivery in Iraq
Ali Hattem Hussain, Yadgar Aziz Abdalla, Rozhan Bahaalddin Abdalla, Dene Sabir Abdalla, Kozhin Aziz Baiz, Bahez Abalkarim Hamarahim, Muhammad Kamal Karim
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ABSTRACT
Background:
In Iraq, vaginal fFN and vaginal pH are not used in clinical settings as biomarkers
to evaluate the preterm delivery.
Aim:
To evaluate the use of vaginal fFN test and measuring of vaginal pH in early
prediction of preterm delivery.
Methods:
37 pregnant women were enrolled in this study, 23 of them were patients group
with suspected preterm delivery, while the
remaining 14 pregnant women were a control group. Vaginal speculum and vaginal
swab were used to help in collecting the specimen, the cervicovaginal
secretions,
then after, these secretions were used for fFN testing by a
fFN Rapid Test cassette /all test company/ China and to measure the vaginal pH
by vaginal pH Rapid test /all test company/China. The demographic and clinical
data were obtained by a questionnaire.
Results:
the result of the current study showed that 12(52.2%) of patients' group were positive
for vaginal fFN, while the other 11 (47.8%) of this group were negative; all
pregnant women in the control group were negative for vaginal fFN. Sixteen
(70%) of patients' group and 10(71%) of control group have an elevated vaginal
pH. PTL was the outcome in 12/12 (100%) of patients positive for fFN and in 4 patients
negative for fFN, while all control group were completed full term labor. In
the patients' group, fetal death or health problems are more frequent in
positive fFN (7/12 (58%)) than in fFN negative (0/11 (0%)). There is no
statistical differences regarding ages, clinical features, and type of delivery
in fFN positive or negative and in high vaginal pH or normal pH.
Conclusions: vaginal fFN is an
important biomarker for predicting PTL and fetal health, while high vaginal pH is
a common finding in most of pregnant women whether they are at risk of PTL or
normal pregnancy. The age of pregnant women, clinical features, and the type of
delivery have no relation to vaginal fFN positivity or to high vaginal pH.
Keywords:
Fibronectin, vaginal pH, pregnancy, preterm labor
ABSTRACT
Background:
In Iraq, vaginal fFN and vaginal pH are not used in clinical settings as biomarkers
to evaluate the preterm delivery.
Aim:
To evaluate the use of vaginal fFN test and measuring of vaginal pH in early
prediction of preterm delivery.
Methods:
37 pregnant women were enrolled in this study, 23 of them were patients group
with suspected preterm delivery, while the
remaining 14 pregnant women were a control group. Vaginal speculum and vaginal
swab were used to help in collecting the specimen, the cervicovaginal
secretions,
then after, these secretions were used for fFN testing by a
fFN Rapid Test cassette /all test company/ China and to measure the vaginal pH
by vaginal pH Rapid test /all test company/China. The demographic and clinical
data were obtained by a questionnaire.
Results:
the result of the current study showed that 12(52.2%) of patients' group were positive
for vaginal fFN, while the other 11 (47.8%) of this group were negative; all
pregnant women in the control group were negative for vaginal fFN. Sixteen
(70%) of patients' group and 10(71%) of control group have an elevated vaginal
pH. PTL was the outcome in 12/12 (100%) of patients positive for fFN and in 4 patients
negative for fFN, while all control group were completed full term labor. In
the patients' group, fetal death or health problems are more frequent in
positive fFN (7/12 (58%)) than in fFN negative (0/11 (0%)). There is no
statistical differences regarding ages, clinical features, and type of delivery
in fFN positive or negative and in high vaginal pH or normal pH.
Conclusions: vaginal fFN is an
important biomarker for predicting PTL and fetal health, while high vaginal pH is
a common finding in most of pregnant women whether they are at risk of PTL or
normal pregnancy. The age of pregnant women, clinical features, and the type of
delivery have no relation to vaginal fFN positivity or to high vaginal pH.
Keywords:
Fibronectin, vaginal pH, pregnancy, preterm labor