Does fetal fibronectin testing change patient management in women at risk of preterm labour?☆
Received 4 March 2009; received in revised form 1 June 2009; accepted 18 June 2009. published online 13 July 2009.
Abstract
Objective
To determine clinicians’ indications for, and actions following, fetal fibronectin testing in both symptomatic and asymptomatic women between 23+0 and 34+6 weeks’ gestation.
Study design
Following clinician education of the predictive ability of fetal fibronectin testing, results of all fetal fibronectin tests done at St Thomas’ Hospital over a 6-week period were analysed. Clinicians were asked if the result changed management and if a reciprocal result would have altered management.
Results
Ninety-seven fetal fibronectin tests were conducted of which 21 (22%) were positive. Follow-up was done for 91 tests of which 25 (28%) test results directly changed management; 81 (89%) test results had the potential to change management independent of the test result.
Conclusion
The results of fetal fibronectin testing directly influenced management in a significant number of patients. A large number of women were asymptomatic at testing. Fetal fibronectin testing could be offered more widely and has the potential to benefit patient management.
Maternal and Fetal Research Unit, King's College London, Division of Reproduction and Endocrinology, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
Corresponding author at: Maternal and Fetal Research Unit, Division of Reproduction and Endocrinology, St. Thomas’ Hospital, 10th Floor North Wing, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom. Tel.: +44 0207 188 3639; fax: +44 0207 620 1227.
☆ Poster Presentation at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 7th International Scientific Meeting, Montreal, Canada. 17–20 September 2008.
ABSTRACT