The Role of Fetal Ductus Arteriosus in Predicting Spontaneous Preterm Birth

Overview

Preterm birth still remains a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The exact mechanism stimulating term and preterm births in humans is still unknown. Prostaglandins, by mediating cervical ripening and early stimulation of myometrial contractions, are likely to play a major role in the parturition process. Much of the unique fetal circulation is facilitated by the ductus arteriosus. Patency of the ductus arteriosus in utero is primarily maintained via prostaglandins which are highly expressed by smooth muscle cells located in the media of the ductus arteriosus. The primary objective of this study is to prospectively assess whether any changes in the fetal ductus arteriosus parameters exist at 32 weeks' gestation. The secondary objective is to investigate whether there is an association between the ductus arteriosus parameters and the time to delivery interval at 32 weeks' gestation.

The rationale is to assess whether physiological responses that occur around the time of delivery, in both the mother and the fetus (elevated prostaglandins level), can be quantified using ultrasound of the fetal ductus arteriosus. Whether or not the ductus arteriosus plays an active physiological role in the initiation of parturition is unknown. Since prostaglandins are physiologically highly expressed within the fetal ductus arteriosus and also linked to some critical steps throughout parturition, it is hypothesized that structural and doppler flow pattern variations of the ductus arteriosus exist in the period surrounding the birth. These changes might occur before or after the intrinsic rise of prostaglandins and could be quantified using prenatal ultrasound of the fetal ductus arteriosus. Identifying new physiological based variables that can assist in predicting the onset of labour, especially surrounding preterm birth, as the one suggested in the current study, is thus of great importance and may provide invaluable information into the overall future care and decision making during pregnancy, especially around the time of delivery. It may assist in creating future recommendations for pregnant women and improved healthcare standards during the delivery process.

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