Our findings show that BV is associated with increased levels of MMP-8 in vaginal fluid. Increased production of collagen-degrading enzymes such as MMP-8 is a possible cause of spontaneous preterm delivery in pregnant women with asymptomatic BV.
The inability of clindamycin to decrease MMP-8 vaginal levels may explain why it is ineffective in reducing preterm birth in pregnant women with positive fFN and BV.
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