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Assessing Placental Shear Wave Elastography as a Tool for Evaluating Preeclampsia
Rajesh Kuber1, Eshan Chetan Durgi2, Neeha A Jhala2
1Radiology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, IND.
Cureus
|October 4, 2024
Summary
Preeclampsia diagnosis can be improved using shear wave elastography to measure placental stiffness. This novel technique shows significantly higher placental stiffness in preeclampsia patients compared to healthy pregnancies, aiding early detection.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Medical Imaging
- Diagnostic Tools
Background:
- Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, particularly preeclampsia, are leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.
- Current preeclampsia prediction tools lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic markers.
- Shear wave elastography offers a promising, objective method for quantifying tissue stiffness with reduced inter-observer variability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify placental elasticity using point shear wave elastography (pSWE) in preeclampsia cases.
- To compare placental stiffness between preeclampsia patients and healthy pregnant controls.
- To evaluate the statistical significance of differences in placental stiffness between the groups.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 60 participants (30 preeclampsia, 30 healthy controls) conducted between August 2022 and July 2024.
- Placental stiffness measured using a Samsung HS70A ultrasound machine with a curvilinear probe employing pSWE.
- Statistical analysis performed using IBM SPSS, with independent t-test to assess group differences (p < 0.05 considered significant).
Main Results:
- Mean placental stiffness was significantly higher in the preeclampsia group (11.71 ± 1.52 kPa) compared to the healthy group (3.36 ± 0.66 kPa) (p = 0.001).
- Preeclampsia patients exhibited markedly increased placental stiffness.
- A statistically significant difference in placental stiffness was observed between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- Shear wave elastography demonstrates a significant difference in placental stiffness between preeclampsia and healthy pregnancies.
- This technique can serve as a valuable supplementary tool for the diagnosis and early prediction of preeclampsia.
- Early diagnosis through advanced methods like shear wave elastography is crucial for timely monitoring and treatment of preeclampsia.
