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An enlarged fetal thymus may be the initial response to intrauterine inflammation in pregnant women at risk for preterm birth

OBJECTIVE: Fetal thymus involvement in prematurity has been studied, and this study aimed to evaluate its relationship with short cervix and amniotic fluid sludge in the second trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 79 pregnant women (19+0 to 24+6 weeks) were inc...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Hamamoto, Tatiana Emy Nishimoto Kawanami, Hatanaka, Alan Roberto, França, Marcelo Santucci, Sarmento, Stéphanno Gomes Pereira, Helfer, Talita Micheletti, Nomura, Roseli Mieko Yamamoto, Araujo, Edward, Moron, Antonio Fernandes
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Associação Médica Brasileira 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10176657/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37075382
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1806-9282.20221678
Descripción
Sumario:OBJECTIVE: Fetal thymus involvement in prematurity has been studied, and this study aimed to evaluate its relationship with short cervix and amniotic fluid sludge in the second trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 79 pregnant women (19+0 to 24+6 weeks) were included, and cervical length and the presence or absence of amniotic fluid sludge were evaluated. In the three-vessel view of the fetal thorax, the thymus was identified, and its perimeter and transverse diameter were measured and transformed to a zeta score based on gestational age. RESULTS: Data from 22 women with short cervix (<25 mm) and 57 patients with normal cervix (≥25 mm) were analyzed. The transverse diameter of the fetal thymus was significantly greater in the short cervix group compared to that of the normal cervix group (z-score 2.708 vs. −0.043, p=0.003). There were no significant differences in the perimeter (z-score −0.039 vs. −0.071, p=0.890) or the transverse diameter (z-score 1.297 vs. −0.004, p=0.091) of the fetal thymus associated with the presence (n=21) or absence of sludge (n=58). CONCLUSION: A short cervix is associated with an increased transverse diameter of the fetal thymus during the second trimester of gestation.