Background: Preterm delivery (PTD) is a principal obstetric dilemma and also a population health threat. The PTD etiology is still a field of abundant research worldwide.
Aim of the study: To find the significance of ultrasonographically-estimated lower myometrium thickness along with cervical characteristics in the prediction of PTD.
Patients and methods: This study comprised 100 pregnant women (50 pregnant women who had risk factors of preterm labor and other 50 pregnant women without risk factors for preterm birth and with prior normal labor) during the period from March 2021 till the December 2021.
Results: Our results revealed that CL was shorter in cases who had risk of preterm labor (24.84± 3.19 mm) compared to that of those without risk (26.8±1.98 mm) (P <0.001). While, the cut off value of cervical length was 25.5(mm) for predicting risk of preterm labor, the sensitivity was 62%, specificity was 76%. The mean thickness of both lower anterior and mid anterior uterine wall was significantly thinner in women with risk of PTD than those without (5.42±0.49 (mm) vs. 5.88±0.36 (mm)), (P<0.001) & (5.45±0.49 (mm) vs. 5.89±0.37 (mm) respectively) (P<0.001). ROC curve showed that the optimum cut-off values for low anterior and mid anterior uterine wall thickness were 5.51 and 5.52 (mm) for predicting risk of PTD with sensitivity 58% of both markers.
Conclusion: Trans-abdominal ultrasound measurement of lower uterine segment thickness may represent an effective, precise, appropriate, and harmless procedure in anticipating the preterm labor with high validity than cervical length.