Strain at the internal cervical os assessed with quasi-static elastography is associated with the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery at ≤34 weeks of gestation

Abstract

AbstractTo evaluate the association between cervical strain assessed with quasi-static elastography and spontaneous preterm delivery.Quasi-static elastography was used to estimate cervical strain in 545 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies from 11 weeks to 28 weeks of gestation. Cervical strain was evaluated in one sagittal plane and in the cross-sectional planes of the internal cervical os and external cervical os. The distribution of strain values was categorized into quartiles for each studied region and their association with spontaneous preterm delivery at ≤34 weeks and at <37 weeks of gestation was evaluated using logistic regression.The prevalence of spontaneous preterm delivery at <37 weeks of gestation was 8.2% (n=45), and that at ≤34 weeks of gestation was 3.8% (n=21). Strain in the internal cervical os was the only elastography value associated with spontaneous preterm delivery. Women with strain values in the 3Increased strain in the internal cervical os is associated with higher risk of spontaneous preterm delivery both at ≤34 and <37 weeks of gestation.