Comparison of Vaginal and Plasma Fibronectin Concentrations for Prognosis of Preterm Delivery: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background & Objective: Prediction of preterm delivery can reduce a large number of its complications. The present study aimed to compare vaginal and plasma fibronectin concentrations in the diagnosis of preterm delivery. Materials & Methods: Serum samples were obtained from ۱۰۵ women at ۲۴-۳۶ weeks of gestation. However, only ۴۰ women gave permission to collect vaginal samples. Fibronectin concentration was measured using the ELISA technique. Then, plasma and vaginal fibronectin levels were compared in term and preterm deliveries. Results: The mean plasma fibronectin level was ۶۲۲۶.۴۳±۷۱۷۴.۹۷ ng/ml among the mothers with term infants and ۷۷۲۴.۰۱±۱۱۴۳.۸۲ ng/ml among those with preterm infants (p=۰.۶۶۷). The mean fetal fibronectin level was ۱۵۶.۶۱±۱۲۶.۴۲ ng/ml among the mothers with term infants and ۱۲۷.۷۱±۴۳.۱۴ ng/ml among those with preterm infants (p=۰.۲۴۱). The cut-off point of plasma fibronectin level was ۱۷۵۰ ng/ml with a sensitivity of ۸۰.۲۵% and specificity of ۸۵.۱۷%. Additionally, the cut-off point of vaginal fibronectin level was ۱۵۸.۹۸ ng/ml with a sensitivity of ۹۴.۶۲% and specificity of ۲۲.۰۸%. Conclusion: Plasma fibronectin analysis had lower sensitivity and higher specificity compared to vaginal fibronectin analysis. This implies that plasma testing has lower false-positive cases and can identify a more significant number of true positive cases of preterm delivery.

Keywords:

Premature Births , fibronectins , vaginal , plasma , Screening Tests