Ultrasonic backscatter evaluates the variability of bone in pregnant women

Pregnancy and lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO) is characterized by the deterioration of bone tissue and the fractures during pregnancy without any underlying disorders. This study attempted to investigate the variability of bone in pregnant women. The ultrasonic backscatter experiments were performed in Shanghai Changning Maternity & Infant Health Hospital. A total of 896 subjects were divided into four groups gestational age from 11^th to 39^th week, calculated apparent integrated backscatter coefficients (AIB) and spectral centroid shift (SCS). The estimated bone mineral density (Est. BMD) was measured using a medical ultrasonic transmission instrument. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated basing on height and weight. The results showed that AIB preformed a decreasing trend with the increasing of gestational age, the mean value in 37-39^th-week group decreased 2.07 dB comparing with the 11-13^th-week group, p<0.001. The SCS mean value in 37–39^th-week group shifted 21.66 kHz than the 11–13^th-week group, p<0.001. The Est. BMD mean value in 37–39^th-week group decreased 0.05 g/cm² than the 11–13^th-week group, p<0.001. The BMI increased with gestation age, the mean value in the 37–39^th-week group was higher than the 11–13^th-week about 4.19 kg/m², p<0.001. One of the reasons for these results was that pregnant women provide nutrition for the fetus, resulting in decreased bone tissue along with gestational age increasing. These results suggest that ultrasonic backscatter method might have a potential to diagnosis PLO.