[Comparison study on transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement and cytokine in prediction of the cervical ripening and the onset time of term labor].

Objective: To compare the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) with transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement in prediction of the cervix ripening and the time of term labor.

Methods: The 79 cases of primiparous women of term pregnancy were chosen as the research subjects. The maternal level of IL-6, IL-8, hCG in cervicovaginal secretions were measured. The cervical length, internal cervical os wedge width and forebag length were measured by transvaginal ultrasonography. The cervical Bishop score was also determined.

Results: (1) The levels of IL-6, IL-8, hCG in cervicovaginal secretions were significantly higher in women they are in labor than that of women at term not in labor (782 +/- 508) ng/L, (10,539 +/- 8 680) ng/L, (114 +/- 86) IU/L, versus (155 +/- 75) ng/L, (7,113 +/- 6 050) ng/L, (35 +/- 21) IU/L, respectively. (2) The levels of cervicovaginal secretions IL-6, IL-8, hCG and the length of cervical, forebag were significant correlation with the cervical Bishop score (P < 0.05, r = 0.42, 0.24, 0.44, -0.56, 0.35) respectively. (3) The levels of cervicovaginal secretions IL-6, IL-8, the length of cervical, forebag measured by transvaginal ultrasonography and the cervical Bishop score were significant correlation to the onset time of term labor (P < 0.01, r = -0.42, -0.46, 0.64, -0.52, -0.41) respectively, and all these markers also could predict the onset of term labor in < or = 7 days, The predictive value on onset labor within < or = 7 days by cervical length < or = 30 mm: the sensitivity, specificity, positive values and negative value are 0.83, 0.89, 0.91 and 0.81 respectively. (4) Among the several markers in predicting cervix ripening and onset of labor, the best one was the transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement of cervical length.

Conclusions: The levels of cervicovaginal secretions IL-6, IL-8, the length of cervical and forebag measured by transvaginal ultrasonography and the Bishop score are valuable in prediction of cervix ripening and onset of labor. The cervical length measured by transvaginal ultrasonography is the best one.