University of Illinois Chicago
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Cervical Remodeling in the Postpartum Period

thesis
posted on 2024-08-01, 00:00 authored by Michelle Villegas-Downs
Objective: Women with a history of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) face an increased risk of recurrence. Yet, the factors contributing to the increased risk are unknown, hampering the development of targeted interventions. Noninvasive Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS) has been validated in the characterization of cervical tissue and has the potential to provide information about postpartum cervical remodeling. The objective of this study was to determine the postpartum cervical remodeling trajectories of women over 12 months post-delivery and to determine whether there were differences between women who delivered full-term and spontaneous preterm that were sensitive to QUS biomarkers. Methods: Data were collected prospectively from 55 women: 41 who delivered full-term and 14 who delivered spontaneously preterm at 6 weeks, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months (±2 weeks) postpartum. Data from QUS biomarkers: Attenuation Coefficient; Backscatter Coefficient; Shear Wave Speed; and Lizzi-Feleppa Slope, Intercept, and Midband were analyzed from the acquired radiofrequency data using a Siemens S2000 ultrasound system with a transvaginal MC 9-4 MHz probe. The biomarkers were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear mixed-effects models. Results: QUS biomarkers, Backscatter Coefficient, and Lizzi-Feleppa Intercept showed significant differences during the year after delivery between women who had a full-term birth and sPTB (p<0.05), suggesting that there are differences in the cervical remodeling trajectories between the two groups. All QUS biomarkers demonstrated significant variations between the full-term birth and sPTB groups over time (p<0.05), indicating ongoing cervical remodeling for both groups during the 12-month postpartum period. Conclusion: QUS biomarkers identified cervical microstructure differences and trajectories in the year after delivery between women who delivered full-term and spontaneous preterm.

History

Advisor

Barbara McFarlin

Department

Human Development Nursing Science

Degree Grantor

University of Illinois Chicago

Degree Level

  • Doctoral

Degree name

Doctor of Philosophy

Committee Member

William D. O'Brien, Jr. Aiguo Han Judith M. Schlaeger Anne M. Fink

Thesis type

application/pdf

Language

  • en

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