Abstract
Purpose: We investigated whether ultrasound elastography was useful for evaluating uterine muscle contractions in women with threatened premature and terminal labor. Subjects and Methods: A total of 17 pregnant women (two women with threatened premature labor and 15 women with terminal labor) were recruited to the study. Elastographic images of abdominal fat and the uterine muscular layer were recorded during uterine contractions and relaxations, and color changes in the muscle were observed. We measured the elasticity of uterine muscle (A) and fatty tissue (B), and calculated B/A ratios. The ratio during contractions was compared with that during relaxations by Wilcoxon's test. Results and Discussion: The muscle color changed with its contraction in all women. The B/A ratios during contractions and relaxation were as follows, respectively: 28.2 and 1.3 for threatened premature labor, 31.2 and 2.5 for the latent phase of the first stage of labor, 49.9 and 2.64 for the active phase of the first stage of labor, and 47.9 and 6.13 for the second stage of labor. There were differences between the two in all stages. Conclusions: Ultrasound elastography made it possible to evaluate whether uterine muscle contracts or not in women with premature preterm and term labor.
