Image J Analysis Of Amniotic Fluid Echogenicity And Labor

Introduction: The amniotic fluid turbidity increases in late third trimester of pregnancy culminating in Labor at AFOD of around 1.0.The lung skin interactions causes vernix separation and there is increase in size, number and distribution of amniotic fluid particles which contribute to the echogenicity of amniotic fluid. An Objective measurement of amniotic fluid echogenicity is attempted in this study. Aim: To study the pattern and measure the changes in amniotic fluid echogenicity in late third trimester and correlate with amniotic fluid optical density (AFOD) at labor. Materials and methods: This observational study comprises 41 singleton pregnancies who underwent transabdominal USG with 3.5 MHz in third trimester till labor. Amniotic fluid echogenicity index is calculated with Image J software by selecting the region of interest and comparison with adjacent structures. Polygonal selection was used for demarcation. The echogenicity index (eAF) at labor was correlated with AFOD at 650 nm. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS 15. Results: The mean echogenicity index (eAF) at onset of spontaneous labor is 73 .1 % SD 8.5 % with significant positive correlation with AFOD. A rapid increase eAF is noted after a value in the range of 60-65 % and within duration of about a week of onset of Labor is taking place at around 70 % (eAF).Conclusion: Spontaneous labor appeared to be associated with rise in echogenicity of amniotic fluid.