Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026
Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Interleukin 6 and fetal fibronectin as a predictors of preterm delivery in symptomatic patients
Marija Hadzi Lega1, Ana Daneva Markova, Milan Stefanovic
1Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia. marijahadzilega@yahoo.com.
Insights
Predicting preterm delivery is crucial. Combining cervico-vaginal IL-6 and fetal fibronectin tests offers a more accurate prediction of preterm birth, reducing unnecessary treatments and costs.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Neonatal Medicine
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Preterm delivery is a leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity, affecting approximately 15 million births globally.
- Early identification of patients at risk for preterm labor is essential for timely intervention and improved outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate cervico-vaginal (CVF) cytokine IL-6 and fetal fibronectin (fFN) as predictors of preterm delivery in symptomatic patients.
- To assess the combined predictive value of CVF IL-6 and fFN for preterm birth.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of patients with preterm labor symptoms from September 2013 to March 2014.
- Collection of vaginal swabs for fFN testing and CVF IL-6 concentration measurement.
- Measurement of preterm delivery within 14 days of admission; administration of appropriate medical treatments.
Main Results:
- A CVF IL-6 cut-off of 1305 pg/mL showed 69.4% sensitivity and 68.2% specificity for predicting preterm delivery.
- A positive fFN test increased the odds of preterm delivery by 6.429 times.
- Combined fFN and CVF IL-6 testing predicted an 86.7% risk of preterm delivery if both were positive, outperforming individual tests.
Conclusions:
- The combination of fFN and CVF IL-6 tests significantly improves the prediction of preterm delivery compared to individual tests.
- This combined approach reduces false positives, potentially leading to more appropriate patient management and reduced healthcare costs.
Abstract:
Preterm delivery is the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. The rate of preterm births has been estimated to be about 15 million, which accounts for 11.1% of all live births worldwide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cervico-vaginal (CVF) cytokine IL-6 and fetal fibronectin (fFN) status as predictors of preterm delivery in patients with symptoms of preterm labor. Patients with symptoms suggestive of preterm labor were recruited from September 2013 to March 2014. Vaginal swabs were taken for fetal fibronectin test (fFN) and CVF IL-6. Antibiotics, steroids and tocolytics were administered, where appropriate. The outcome was measured by the occurrence of preterm delivery within 14 days from the day of hospital admission. Cut-off value of 1305 pg/mL for the concentration of IL-6 in the CVF was the best predictor of preterm delivery, with the sensitivity of 69.4% and specificity of 68.2%. Patients with positive fFN test had the OR of 6.429 (95%CI 1.991-20.758) to deliver prematurely. The multivariate analysis of combined fFN and CVF IL-6 tests resulted in risk of 86.7% to deliver prematurely, if both tests were positive. The combination of both tests performed better than the individual tests and decreased the false positive rate, which in turn reduced the chances for inappropriate patient treatment, bringing down the costs.
