Objective:

To establish the usefulness of cervical vascularization low he in the prediction of impending preterm labor.

Design:

Case-control study. Institution: “Dr. Urquinaona” Central Hospital, Maracaibo, Venezuela.

Participants:

Patients with preterm delivery within 7 days (group A) and pregnant women with preterm delivery beyond 7 days (group B).

Methods:

Pregnant women were evaluated using transvaginal ultrasound and followed until delivery.

Main outcome measures:

General characteristics, cervical vascularity low he (vascularity index, low index and vascularity / low index), impending preterm delivery, and prognostic efficacy.

Results:

A total of 350 patients were included, 75 women presented imminent preterm labor (group A) and 251 patients were considered as controls (group B). Patients in group A had significantly lower values of vascularization index and low index compared to group B (p = 0.0122 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Patients in group B had significantly higher values of vascularization / low index compared to patients in group A (p = 0.0103). The three low he and the combination of these did not show the ability to discriminate imminent preterm labor.

Conclusions:

Patients with imminent preterm labor showed significant differences in the vascularization low he compared to patients presenting preterm labor beyond 7 days of ultrasound evaluation. However, they are not useful in predicting impending preterm labor.

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