Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) have developed a groundbreaking ultrasound method to predict the risk of preterm birth, a condition affecting 10-15% of pregnancies in the U.S. This innovative technique, the result of over 20 years of interdisciplinary collaboration, uses quantitative ultrasound to measure microstructural changes in the cervix as early as 23 weeks into pregnancy. Unlike traditional ultrasound, which generates images, this method analyzes radio frequency data to assess tissue characteristics. The findings, published in American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Maternal Fetal Medicine, could revolutionize early risk assessment for preterm birth, particularly for first-time pregnancies.
Current methods for predicting preterm birth rely solely on a history of prior premature deliveries, leaving first-time pregnancies without reliable risk assessment tools. This new approach bridges that gap, enabling clinicians to detect changes in cervical tissue that indicate increased risk. In a study of 429 women who gave birth at the University of Illinois Hospital, the method proved effective, particularly when combining ultrasound data with delivery history in subsequent pregnancies.
Barbara McFarlin, professor emeritus of nursing at UIC and the study’s lead author, began exploring this idea during her doctoral studies in 2001 after observing cervical differences in patients at risk for preterm birth. She collaborated with Bill O’Brien, an electrical and computer engineering professor at UIUC, to adapt quantitative ultrasound techniques for this purpose. Their research partnership has established this method as a potential game-changer in preterm birth prevention.
By identifying at-risk pregnancies earlier, clinicians can monitor patients more closely, opening avenues for new interventions to delay labor. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the study sets the stage for future research into preventing preterm births and improving maternal and fetal outcomes.
