الفهرس 
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Abstract
Preterm birth is one of the major clinical problems in obstetrics and neonatology as it is associated with perinatal mortality, serious neonatal morbidity and in some cases childhood disability. It is reported that more than 80% of all neonatal mortality and morbidity is due to preterm birth.
In this study fetal adrenal gland volume and fetal zone measurement were used as a predictors for occurrence of labor in singleton pregnancies complicated by threatened preterm labor in comparison to cervical length and cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin.
The study was carried out at Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital. The current study include 88 pregnant women who presented with symptoms or signs of threatened preterm labor (PTL). All women were subjected to full history taking, full general, abdominal, pelvic examination, in addition to ultrasound fetal biometry, measurement of cervical length, measurement of fetal fibronectin, fetal adrenal gland volume AGV and fetal zone acquisitions.
The patients were followed up till delivery if they get into evident preterm labor or complete the pregnancy. According to enrollment-delivery interval, patients were divided into 2arms; the first arm [women with threatened PTL who delivered preterm within 7 days of admission (n=32)], the second arm: [women with threatened PTL who delivered beyond 7 days (n=56)]
A cervical length ≤ 15 mm was significantly associated with delivery within 7 days with a sensitivity of 71.8%, specificity of 72.2%, positive predictive value [PPV] of 58.8%, negative predictive value [NPV] of 82.6%, positive likelihood ratio [LR+] of 2.45 and negative likelihood ratio [LR-] of 0.41 .
A fetal adrenal gland volume ≥ 405mm3/k.g was significantly associated with delivery within 7 days with a sensitivity of 94.5%, specificity of 97.7%, PPV of 94.5%, NPV of 97.7%, LR+ of 22.46 and LR- of 0.08.
A fetal zone enlargement ≥ 47.5% was significantly associated with delivery within 7 days with a sensitivity of 94.5%, specificity of 91.4%, PPV of 85%, NPV of 97.8%, LR+ of 9.08 and LR- of 0.08.