Background: Spontaneous preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal mortality as more than one million die because of pre-term birth. Premature neonates who survive have significantly higher risk of developing serious complications such as cardiovascular, respiratory dysfunction, motor and intellectual deficiencies. The aim of our study is to evaluate the role of ultrasonographic measurement of myometrial thickness, cervical length, presence of funneling and cervical position in prediction of preterm labor. Patient and Methods: Our prospective observational study included a sample of 100 pregnant women divided into 2 groups, group A (50 pregnant women who had previous preterm labor) and group B (50 low risk pregnant women).The myometrium thickness was measured by tansabdominal ultrasound at 4 different sites low anterior, mid anterior, fundal and posterior. Transvaginal ultrasound was performed to assess cervical length, presence of funneling and cervical position. Results: The incidence of preterm labor was 18%. There was a statistically significant association between the presence of positive history of previous abortion and the risk of preterm birth. The cervical length measured at 20-24 weeks was significantly shorter in spontaneous preterm birth women in comparison to women who delivered at full term. Conclusion: At 20-24 weeks of gestation, transvaginal cervical length measurement is the best predictor. A posterior uterine thickness ≤6.0 (mm) had highest diagnostic characteristics in predicting preterm delivery among risky group. Cervical position was found insignificant in prediction of preterm birth.

Background: Maternal vitamin D deficiency is a widespread public health problem as the prevalence of inadequate and deficient vitamin D status in pregnant women ranges from 5 to 84% globally.Objective: To assess risk factors for vitamin D deficiency and investigate the relation between maternal vitamin D level, and development of gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension, intrauterine growth retardation, and preterm labor.Patients and methods: Our prospective observational study included 100 pregnant women divided into 2 equal groups: group A had insufficient vitamin d level and group B had sufficient vitamin D level in serum with no risk factors. Vitamin D levels were measured on the MiniVidas (Biomerieux, France). Results:The incidence of preterm labor was 22%. There was a statistically significant association between hypovitaminosis D and preterm labor. There was no significant association between hypovitaminosis D and gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension and intrauterine growth retardation. Conclusion:There was an association between hypovitaminosis D in pregnancy and preterm deliveries, No association between vitamin D deficiency and common pregnancy complications as gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension and intra uterine growth retardation.

No abstract