Mashhadian M, Marsosi V, Ziaei S, Asghari Jafar Abadi M,
Volume 68, Issue 10 (1-2011)
Abstract
Background: Preterm delivery is a relevant public health problem. The aim of this study was
to evaluate the association between spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD)
before 35 and 37
weeks of gestational age and the measurement of the cervix length, cervical
funneling and Cervical Gland Area (CGA),
in high risk pregnant population.
Methods: A prospective cohort of 200
women carrying high risk pregnancies was evaluated by transvaginal
sonography between 14th and 28th gestational weeks. The data were analyzed using statistical methods.
A multiple linear regression model was estimated
in order to examine the relationship between the gestational age at delivery
and the cervical markers. A multiple logistic
regression was estimated in order to analyze the factors associated to
spontaneous preterm delivery and the transvaginal sonographic markers.
Results: Cervical length less than 18 mm and the presence
of cervical funneling presented a statistically significant association with
spontaneous preterm delivery before 35 weeks.
The nondetection of Cervical Gland Area demonstrated a strong association with
spontaneous preterm delivery before (p=0.0001,
OR=169.1, CI=2.6-3.1) and 35th and 37th gestational week (p=0.001, OR=115,
CI=2.12-3.5). The multiple logistic regression
analysis suggested the non-detection of CGA as
the only variable to reveal statistically significance association with
spontaneous preterm delivery.
Conclusion: Based on results of present study the absence of
cervical gland area (CGA) can be a new and important ultrasound marker for predicting spontaneous
preterm delivery and needs to confirm with future multicenter investigations.
