Markers of risk for pre-term delivery

The aim of this study is to identify early predictive markers for preterm l abor. In our population we considered two groups of pregnant women with ges tation between 24 and 34 weeks: one at risk for pre-term labour and one sym ptom-free. The data were collected by: the measurement of vaginal pH; a sam ple for cervical fFn, two samples for the dosage of IL-6 and TNF alpha in t he cervical fluids and a venous blood sample for the dosage of IL-6, TNF al pha and ferritin concentration. In our study the presence of vaginal pH>4.5 , of cervical IL-6 increase and fFn test positivity seems to be predictive of subsequent pre-term delivery. While serum IL-6, serum and cervical TNF a lpha and serum ferritin cannot be considered useful markers.