Significance of combined detection of cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin and interleukin-6 in predicting preterm delivery

Objective To evaluate the significance of detecting FFN and IL-6 in cervicovaginal secretions of women with threatened preterm labor in predicting preterm delivery.Methods Samples of cervicovaginal secretion were obtained from 43 patients with the diagnosis of threatened preterm labor(study group)and 41 pregnant women between the same gestational weeks(control group),and FFN and IL-6 were measured by ELISA.Results(1)FFN and IL-6 levels in study group were higher than those in control group(P0.05),which in the patients with preterm parturition were higher than those in the cases with term parturition(P0.05).FFN level was positively correlated with IL-6 level(r=0.657,P0.05).(2)The sensitivity and the negative predictive value in predicting preterm delivery and delivery within one week were higher with FFN than those with IL-6,but the specificity and the positive predictive value predicted by IL-6 were lower.Conclusions(1)FFN and IL-6 concentrations had relationships with preterm delivery,and FFN level was positively correlated with IL-6 level.(2)FFN and IL-6,especially combined detection,were the sensitive markers for predicting preterm delivery and delivery within one week.