Diagnostic value of myometrial thickness in pregnant women with preterm labor

The incidence of preterm birth is 7-12%. The rate varies according to races; 8.8% among whites and rises up to 18.9% among afro-americans and could not have been reduced in the last 30 years (10,11). Accounting for 75-85%, preterm birth is the most common cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality in the neonates without any congenital malformations (11). There are a lot of risks for preterm birth. Prevention of preterm birth is one of the leading objectives of obstetrics to avoid the morbidity, which can occur because of prematurity, as well as perinatal and neonatal deaths. This study was conducted between May 2012 and June 2013 in Akdeniz University Gynecology and Obstetrics Department. A total of 80 patients with the diagnosis of preterm labor between 26º - 36? gestational weeks were included. Informed consent was obtained from all patients. Diagnostic value of ultrasonographic myometrial thickness in the regions of uterine fundus, anterior wall and low uterine segments of pregnant women with preterm labor were examined. Additionally, other ultrasonographic measurements (cervical length, MVP, placental thickness, EFW), demographic characteristics, maternal age, gravity, parity, gestational age at presentation, cigarette smoking, vaginal bleeding at presentation, use of tocolytics were also examined. Patients were followed and analyzed for delivery within a week, delivery before 35 weeks and delivery before 37 weeks. There was a statistically significant association between shorter cervical length and delivery within a week, delivery before 35 weeks and delivery before 37 weeks when compared to delivery after one week, delivery after 35 weeks, delivery after 37 weeks respectively. The findings of our study revealed that; in pregnants who gave birth < 37 weeks, fundal and anterior wall thickness were both lower and in pregnants who gave birth < 35 weeks, only the fundal thickness was lower. The differences were statistically significant. In our study, myometrial thickness and cervical length can have potential role in the distinction of the preterm labor and false labor. However, studies carried out with a wider range of patients will present us more obvious data