A randomized clinical trial of Premaquick biomarkers versus transvaginal cervical length for pre-induction cervical assessment at term among pregnant women.

OBJECTIVES: To compare Premaquick biomarkers (combined insulin-like growth-factor binding protein 1 and interleukin-6) and cervical length measurement via transvaginal ultrasound for pre-induction cervical evaluation at term among pregnant women.

METHODS: A randomized clinical trial of consenting pregnant women at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria. The women were randomized equally into Premaquick group ( n  = 36) and transvaginal ultrasound group ( n  = 36). The cervix was adjudged 'ripe' if the Premaquick test was positive or if the trans-vaginal measured cervical length was less than 28 mm. The primary outcome measures were the proportions of women who needed prostaglandin analogue for cervical ripening and the proportion that achieved vaginal delivery after induction of labour. The trial was registered in Pan African clinical trial registry (PACTR) registry with approval number PACTR202001579275333.

RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups ( p  > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of proportion of women that required prostaglandins for pre-induction cervical ripening (41.7 versus 47.2%, p  = 0.427), vaginal delivery (77.8 versus 80.6%, p  = 0.783), mean induction to delivery interval (22.9 ± 2.81 h versus 24.04 ± 3.20 h, p  = 0.211), caesarean delivery (22.2 versus 19.4%, p  = 0.783), proportion of neonate with birth asphyxia (8.30 versus 8.30%, p  = 1.00) and proportion of neonate admitted into special care baby unit (16.7 versus 13.9%, p  = 0.872). Subgroup analysis of participants with 'ripe' cervix at initial pre-induction assessment showed that the mean induction to active phase of labour interval and mean induction to delivery interval were significantly shorter in Premaquick than transvaginal ultrasound group.

CONCLUSION: Pre-induction cervical assessment at term with either Premaquick biomarkers or transvaginal ultrasound for cervical length is effective, objective and safe with similar and comparable outcome. However, when compared with women with positive transvaginal ultrasound at initial assessment, women with positive Premaquick test at initial assessment showed a significantly shorter duration of onset of active phase of labour and delivery of baby following induction of labour.