Recurrent Preterm Birth

Mazaki-Tovi, Shali; Romero, Roberto; Kusanovic, Juan Pedro; Erez, Offer; Pineles, Beth L.; Gotsch, Francesca; Mittal, Pooja; Gabor Than, Nandor; Espinoza, Jimmy; Hassan, Sonia S.

doi:10.1053/j.semperi.2007.04.001

« Previous Next »Seminars in Perinatology
Volume 31, Issue 3 , Pages 142-158, June 2007

Recurrent Preterm Birth

Shali Mazaki-Tovi, MD
- Perinatology Research Branch, Intramural Division, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Hutzel Women’s Hospital, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University/Hutzel Women’s Hospital, Detroit, MI.
Roberto Romero, MD
- Perinatology Research Branch, Intramural Division, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Hutzel Women’s Hospital, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI.
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
- Address correspondence to Roberto Romero, MD, Perinatology Research Branch, Intramural Division, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Hutzel Women’s Hospital, 3990 John R St., Box #4, Detroit, MI 48201.
Juan Pedro Kusanovic, MD
- Perinatology Research Branch, Intramural Division, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Hutzel Women’s Hospital, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI.
Offer Erez, MD
- Perinatology Research Branch, Intramural Division, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Hutzel Women’s Hospital, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI.
Beth L. Pineles, BS
- Perinatology Research Branch, Intramural Division, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Hutzel Women’s Hospital, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI.
Francesca Gotsch, MD
- Perinatology Research Branch, Intramural Division, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Hutzel Women’s Hospital, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI.
Pooja Mittal, MD
- Perinatology Research Branch, Intramural Division, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Hutzel Women’s Hospital, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University/Hutzel Women’s Hospital, Detroit, MI.
Nandor Gabor Than, MD
- Perinatology Research Branch, Intramural Division, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Hutzel Women’s Hospital, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI.
Jimmy Espinoza, MD
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University/Hutzel Women’s Hospital, Detroit, MI.
Sonia S. Hassan, MD
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University/Hutzel Women’s Hospital, Detroit, MI.

Recurrent preterm birth is frequently defined as two or more deliveries before 37 completed weeks of gestation. The recurrence rate varies as a function of the antecedent for preterm birth: spontaneous versus indicated. Spontaneous preterm birth is the result of either preterm labor with intact membranes or preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes. This article reviews the body of literature describing the risk of recurrence of spontaneous and indicated preterm birth. Also discussed are the factors which modify the risk for recurrent spontaneous preterm birth (a short sonographic cervical length and a positive cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin test). Patients with a history of an indicated preterm birth are at risk not only for recurrence of this subtype, but also for spontaneous preterm birth. Individuals of black origin have a higher rate of recurrent preterm birth.

Keywords: recurrent preterm birth, indicated preterm birth, spontaneous preterm birth, rupture of membranes, parturition