Characterization of the effects of Atosiban on uterine electromyograms recorded in women with threatened preterm labor. (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mas-Cabo, J.; Prats-Boluda, G.; Ye-Lin, Y.; Alberola-Rubio, J.; Perales, A.; Garcia-Casado, J.
• Is Part Of: Biomedical signal processing and control. Volume 52(2019)
• Page Start: 198
• Page End: 205
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: Electrohysterogram -- Atosiban -- Excitability -- Complexity -- Preterm labor; Signal processing -- Periodicals; Biomedical engineering -- Periodicals; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted -- Periodicals; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted -- Periodicals; Biomedical Engineering -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bspc.2019.04.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1746-8094

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: EHG parameters reflect myometrial condition and changes provoked by tocolytic drugs. Different response to drug was shown in women that will deliver at term vs preterm. EHG high frequency content reduces faster in term women than preterm during therapy. EHG complexity increased in preterms during therapy but barely changes for terms. EHG parameters can separate term from preterm labor prior, during and after therapy. Abstract: Although research studies using electrohysterography on women without tocolytic therapy have shown its potential for preterm birth diagnosis, tocolytics are usually administered in emergency rooms at the first sign of threatened preterm labor (TPL). Information on the uterine response during tocolytic treatment could prove useful for the development of tools able to predict true preterm deliveries under normal clinical conditions. The aim of this study was thus to analyze the effects of Atosiban on Electrohysterogram (EHG) parameters and to compare its effects on women who delivered preterm (WDP) and at term (WDT). Electrohysterograms recorded in different Atosiban therapy stages (before, during and after drug administration) on 40 WDT and 27 WDP were analyzed by computing linear, and non-linear EHG parameters. Results reveal that Atosiban does not greatly affect the EHG signal amplitude, but does modify its spectral content and reduces the energy associated with the fast wave high component in both WDP and WDT, with a faster response in the latter. EHG signal complexity remained constant in WDT, while it increased in WDP until it reached similar values to WDT during Atosiban treatment. The spectral and complexity parameters were able to separate (p < 0.05) WDT and WDP prior to and during tocolytic treatment and before and after treatment, respectively. The results pave the way for developing better and more reliable medical decision support systems based on EHG for preterm delivery prediction in TPL women in clinical scenarios.