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Beta‐human chorionic gonadotropin and prolactin assays in cervicovaginal secretions as a predictor of preterm delivery
Author(s) -
Guvenal T,
Kantas E,
Erselcan T,
Culhaoglu Y,
Cetin A
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/s0020-7292(01)00495-7
Subject(s) - medicine , prolactin , gestation , predictive value , human chorionic gonadotropin , pregnancy , obstetrics , gynecology , preterm delivery , hormone , biology , genetics
Objective : To evaluate and to compare the predictive value of cervicovaginal beta‐hCG and prolactin levels in spontaneous preterm delivery. Methods : The preterm labor group and normal pregnancy group consisted of 17 and 43 patients between 24 and 36 weeks’ gestation, respectively. A single cervicovaginal beta‐hCG and prolactin measurement were made in both groups. Results : Cervicovaginal beta‐hCG and prolactin levels were significantly higher in the preterm group when compared with those of the term delivery group ( P =0.031, P =0.026, respectively). The optimal cut‐off value for beta‐hCG (27.1 mIU/ml) gave a sensitivity level of 87.5% (47.4–97.9; 95% C.I.) at a specificity of 65.4% (50.9–78.0; 95% C.I.) with positive and negative predictive values of 28% and 97%, respectively. The optimal cut‐off value for prolactin (1.8 ng/ml) gave a sensitivity level of 50% (16.0–84.0; 95% C.I.) at a specificity of 96% (86.8–99.4; 95% C.I.) with positive and negative predictive values of 67% and 93%, respectively. Conclusions : Cervicovaginal beta‐hCG measurement in patients with preterm labor may be used as a predictive test. Cervicovaginal prolactin is not a sensitive test compared with the beta‐hCG test.