Using ultrasound to check fetal lung health
Official title: Characterization of Fetal Lung With Quantitative Ultrasound
Run by University of Wisconsin, Madison · NCT06722365 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if a special ultrasound can help check the lung health of babies in the womb during the last few months of pregnancy.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 16 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Wisconsin, Madison Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Madison, Wisconsin) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 17, 2024 |
| Main results expected | June 2027 |
| Study ends | June 2027 |
| Registry record updated | June 25, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06722365 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are pregnant females aged 18 to 45 years with a singleton pregnancy between 32.1 and 36.7 weeks gestation, not in labor, and scheduled for a routine ultrasound.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with active labor, fetal lung malformations, or those who have received corticosteroids prior to the ultrasound may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study aims to assess the feasibility of using backscatter quantitative ultrasound (bQUS) to evaluate fetal lung health during the third trimester of pregnancy. A total of 12 pregnant participants will undergo a single 30-minute ultrasound between 32 and 36 weeks gestation. The study will first establish the technical viability of data acquisition and then analyze the quantitative features of the ultrasound data to understand populational variance. The research will be conducted at the UPH-Meriter Center for Perinatal Care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a non-invasive method to monitor fetal lung development and identify potential respiratory complications.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of ultrasound in fetal monitoring is common, the specific application of bQUS for assessing lung health is novel and has not been extensively tested in previous studies.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Pregnant females ages 18 to 45 years old with singleton pregnancy, live fetus, gestational age between 32.1 and 36.7 weeks, not in labor, scheduled for routine ultrasound growth evaluation. * Gestational age determined by the date of the last menses, and confirmed by measurement of the crown-rump-length on transabdominal ultrasound. Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects unable to consent * Active Labor * Fetal malformations of the lungs * Prescription of corticosteroids prior to ultrasound evaluation * Pre-gestation or gestational diabetes mellitus * Low English proficiency, needing an interpreter
Where it's running
-
Meriter Hospital
Madison, Wisconsin, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: J. Igor Iruretagoyena, MD, MS — UW School of Medicine and Public Health
- Study coordinator: UW Ob/Gyn Human Subjects Core
- Email: research.crc_obgyn@wisc.edu
- Phone: 608-890-3345
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.