Contrast ultrasound imaging of uterine spiral arteries after delivery
PlaCEUS: Feasibility Study of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound to Visualize Maternal Uterine Spiral Arteries Postpartum.
We will try using contrast-enhanced ultrasound after delivery to visualize small uterine spiral arteries and measure uterine artery blood flow in people with a single pregnancy at term who deliver at Máxima Medical Center.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 5 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | Maxima Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Veldhoven) |
| Trial ID | NCT07422181 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This feasibility study uses contrast-enhanced ultrasound (SonoVue microbubbles) performed in the immediate postpartum period to attempt direct visualization of persistent maternal spiral arteries, combined with Doppler waveform analysis of the uterine arteries. Doppler measurements will be obtained before delivery, during labor, and after birth to track uterine artery hemodynamics over time. Because ultrasound contrast agents are not approved for use during pregnancy, imaging is limited to the immediate postpartum setting when intravenous access is available. The goal is to determine whether CEUS can reveal structural features of spiral arteries that conventional Doppler cannot, as a first step toward improving understanding of uteroplacental vascular remodeling.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant people aged 18 or older with a singleton term pregnancy (≥37 weeks) who plan to deliver at Máxima Medical Center and have intravenous access at delivery.
Not a fit: People with multiple gestation, known allergy to the contrast agent, current breastfeeding plans, pre-eclampsia requiring medication, fetal growth restriction <3rd percentile, BMI >40 kg/m2, no IV access at delivery, or those experiencing a medical emergency around delivery are unlikely to benefit or are excluded.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a new way to see and study spiral artery remodeling, which may eventually improve diagnosis and understanding of conditions like pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction.
How similar studies have performed: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound has been used to image small-vessel perfusion in other organs, but using CEUS postpartum to visualize uterine spiral arteries is novel and has only limited prior data.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Pregnant patient at a minimum age of 18 years * Singleton pregnancy at term (≥37 weeks gestation) * Planning to deliver at the Máxima Medical Centre * Able to provide informed consent * Intravenous access present at the time of delivery Exclusion Criteria: * Multiple gestation pregnancy * Contra-indications to CEUS, e.g. known allergy for constituents of SonoVue™ * Planning on breastfeeding * Medical emergency during or after delivery, which makes CEUS impossible or undesirable * No intravenous access present at the time of delivery * Body Mass Index \>40 kg/m2. * Pre-eclampsia requiring medication * Foetal growth restriction \< p3
Where this trial is running
Veldhoven
- Máxima Medical center — Veldhoven, Netherlands (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Eveline Dekker, Drs
- Email: e.dekker@mmc.nl
- Phone: +3140 888 83 80
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.