The comparison of plasma fibronectin in term and preterm delivery: A cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study

Preterm delivery is among the main causes of infant’s death. Thus, prediction of preterm delivery may eliminate a large number of its complications. The present study was aimed to understand if we can predict preterm delivery by assessing maternal plasma fibronectin concentration.

Serum samples from 105 pregnant women who participated in this study were collected. The plasma fibronectin levels were assayed twice during the gestational age of 24-28 and 33 to 36 weeks as a first and second samples. Unfortunately among 105  pregnant women only 65 turned up for the second sampling.   The plasma fibronectine was analyzed by Elisa method. The plasma fibronectin concentration in term and preterm deliveries were compared, the delivery dates of all the women were recorded.

 Out of 105 pregnant women 28 had preterm delivery (26.7 %). The plasma
Fibronectin concentration of women with preterm delivery were higher to those with term delivery (p<0.05). Accordingly, fibronectin concentration was significantly higher in the second serum samples (p<0.05). In the first blood samples, the plasma fibronectine cutoff point was 1750 ng/ml with the sensitivity of 80.26% and specificity of 17.85%. The cutoff point for  the second samples was 4226 ng/ml with the sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 74%. Fibronectin concentration was also higher in obese women and those suffering from preeclampsia and gestational diabetes (p>0/05).

Maternal plasma fibronectin test could be used as a optional  screening test for preterm delivery at 28-34 weeks of gestation in pregnant women who doesn’t prefer vaginal sampling.