Faculty Collaboration Database

Examining the relationship between positive mid-gestational fetal fibronectin assays and histological evidence of acute placental inflammation. J Perinat Med 2007;35(1):36-42

Date

02/23/2007

Pubmed ID

17313308

DOI

10.1515/JPM.2007.005

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-33847212443 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   6 Citations

Abstract

AIMS: Both acute placental inflammation and positive mid-gestational cervico-vaginal fetal fibronectin assays have been independently correlated with preterm delivery. We conducted this study to examine the relationship between positive mid-gestational fetal fibronectin (fFN) assays and histological evidence of acute placental inflammation at delivery among women presenting with symptomatic preterm labor.

METHODS: This retrospective chart review included women who underwent cervico-vaginal fFN testing for preterm contractions between 24-34 weeks gestation and also had placental histological analysis after delivery. Women with a multiple gestation, cerclage, preterm premature rupture of membranes, intercourse or vaginal bleeding within 24 h before the assay were excluded. The primary outcome was histological evidence of acute placental inflammation defined as acute chorioamnionitis, acute deciduitis, funisitis, or microabscess formation.

RESULTS: Of 82 women who met all study inclusion criteria, 45% were fFN positive. Women with positive assays were no more likely to have histological evidence of acute inflammation noted at birth than women with negative assays (45% vs. 26%, P=0.07). The assay had a sensitivity of 58.6%, specificity of 62.3%, positive predictive value of 46.0%, and negative predictive value of 73.3% for predicting acute inflammation at delivery.

CONCLUSIONS: No association exists between positive fetal fibronectin assays and acute histologic placental inflammation at birth.

Author List

Akers A, Jarzembowski JA, Johnson CT, Lieberman RW, Dalton VK

Author

Jason A. Jarzembowski MD, PhD Sr Associate Dean, CEO CSG, Professor in the Pathology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Chorioamnionitis
Female
Fibronectins
Glycoproteins
Humans
Obstetric Labor, Premature
Placenta
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Trimester, Second
Pregnancy Trimester, Third
Retrospective Studies