Quantitative cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin as a predictor of cervical ripening and induced labour duration in late-term pregnancy

Abstract

We evaluated quantitative cervicovaginal foetal-fibronectin as a predictor of cervical ripening and labour duration in late-term pregnant women with an unfavourable cervix. This was an analytical cross-sectional study wherein 152 women, with late-term pregnancy and unfavourable cervix, at 41weeks3days gestational age, had pre-induction quantitative cervicovaginal foetal-fibronectin determined using ELISA. Data were compared in nulliparas and multiparas at a significance level 12 hours in late-term pregnancy with an area under the ROC curve of 0.634. Quantitative cervicovaginal foetal-fibronectin is a poor correlate and predictor of cervical ripening and induced labour duration in late-term pregnancy.IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? Cervicovaginal foetal fibronectin is useful in the prediction of preterm delivery but its role in prolonged pregnancy is unclear. What the results of this study add? Cervicovaginal foetal fibronectin is a poor correlate and predictor of cervical ripening and induced labour duration in late-term pregnancy What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Cervicovaginal fibronectin should not be used to predict ease and success of cervical ripening and induction of labour in women with late-term pregnancy.

Keywords

• bishop score
• cervical ripening
• foetal fibronectin
• induction of labour
• late-term pregnancy