FETAL FIBRONECTIN AND MICROORGANISMS IN VAGINAL FLUID OF HEALTHY PREGNANT-WOMEN

Objective. To determine fetal fibronectin in vaginal fluid from health y women during uncomplicated pregnancy and to investigate possible rel ationships to gestational age and the vaginal microflora. Materials an d methods. Samples of vaginal fluid were collected for fetal fibronect in determination and for quantitative aerobic and anaerobic microbiolo gical culture from 22 women followed longitudinally at 12, 28 and 37 w eeks gestation and cross-sectionally in women at 12 weeks (n=10), 28 w eeks (n=10), 37 weeks (n=10), and 39 weeks (n=30) gestation, respectiv ely. Fetal fibronectin was determined by a quantitative enzyme immunoa ssay (Adeza Biomedical). Results. There were no significant difference s between the concentrations of fetal fibronectin in vaginal secretion s at any of the four measurement points (12, 28, 37 and 39 weeks gesta tion). Women with elevated fetal fibronectin concentration (greater th an or equal to 0.05 mg/L) had less often hydrogen peroxide-producing f acultative lactobacilli (p<0.0001), and more often bacterial vaginosis (p<0.02) and Peptostreptococcus species (p<0.002). Bacterial vaginosi s (p<0.01) and Candida albicans (p<0.01) were more frequently found in women lacking hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli. Conclusion. F etal fibronectin in vaginal fluid was more associated with the vaginal microflora than with the gestational age of the pregnancy. Presence o f hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli seems to be the most import ant factor for a stable vaginal microflora.