Short cervix on ultrasound: does indomethacin prevent preterm birth?

Publication/Presentation Date

9-1-2006

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to estimate if indomethacin therapy prevents preterm birth (PTB) in women with a short cervical length (CL) on transvaginal ultrasound (TVU).

STUDY DESIGN: Individual-level data from all randomized trials including asymptomatic women with a short CL on TVU were analyzed for use of indomethacin at the time of the short CL. The trials eligible would be ones that randomized women with a short CLmm, identified between 14 and 27 weeks. The eligible trials randomized such women to receive either cerclage or no cerclage. Only women who did NOT receive cerclage were analyzed. Exclusion criteria were major fetal anomaly and cerclage. We compared demographics, risk factors, and outcomes in women who, at the time of the short CL, received indomethacin or not. Primary outcome was PTBweeks.

RESULTS: Three of the 4 randomized trials identified had databases which recorded indomethacin use at the time of the short CL. A total of 139 women with a short CLwomen, 99 (71.2%) received indomethacin, and 40 (28.8%) did not. Demographics and risk factors, including previous PTB (45.5% vs 62.5%; P = .11), were similar in the 2 groups. The primary outcome of PTB29.3% (29/99) of women who received indomethacin, and 42.5% (17/40) of women who did not receive indomethacin (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.44-1.13). PTB1.0% (1/99) versus 7.5% (3/40), respectively (RR 0.14; 95% CI 0.02-0.92). Incidence of perinatal death was similar in the 2 groups (6% vs 10%; RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.19-1.95).

CONCLUSION: Indomethacin therapy for asymptomatic women who have a short CLweeks, but did prevent PTBtherapy.

Volume

195

Issue

3

First Page

809

Last Page

813

ISSN

1097-6868

Disciplines

Obstetrics and Gynecology

PubMedID

16949416

Department(s)

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Document Type

Article

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