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. 2025 Mar 12;26(1):41-48.
doi: 10.4274/jtgga.galenos.2024.2024-4-8.

An evaluation of the relationship between striae gravidarum and intra-abdominal adhesions in caesarean section

Yıldız Akdaş Reis  1 , Arife Akay  2 , Fahri Burçin Fıratlıgil  3 , Seval Yılmaz-Ergani  3 , Nigar Mammadova  3 , Belgin Savran-Üçok  3 , Tuğba Kınay  3 , Rahmi Sinan Karadeniz  1 , Yaprak Engin-Üstün  1
Affiliations

An evaluation of the relationship between striae gravidarum and intra-abdominal adhesions in caesarean section

Yıldız Akdaş Reis et al. J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc. .

Abstract

Objective: Recurrent cesarean deliveries are associated with intra-abdominal adhesions, and these adhesions affect maternal and neonatal morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the severity of striae gravidarum (SG) and intra-abdominal adhesions detected during cesarean section (CS).

Material and methods: In this prospective, case-control study, women undergoing a second CS were divided into three groups according to the severity of SG (group 1 - no SG; group 2 - mild SG; group 3 - moderate to severe SG). Demographic and clinical characteristics, grade of intra-abdominal adhesions, Fitzpatrick skin type (FST), and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were assessed in all groups.

Results: A total of 150 cases were divided into three equal groups. There was no significant difference in body mass index among the groups (p=0.155). Although lower vitamin D levels were observed in group 3 compared to the other groups (p=0.034), the grade of adhesions was not associated with vitamin D level (p=0.281). All of the grade 2-4 adhesions occurred in mild to moderate cases of SG. Intra-abdominal adhesion was absent in 92% of CS (p<0.001) in pregnancies where SG was not detected. No intra-abdominal adhesions were observed in women with FST type 1 and in 80% of cases with type 6 skin, grade 2-4 adhesions were found (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Pregnant women with moderate SG and dark skin are at high-risk of increased incidence of intra-abdominal adhesions in subsequent CS.

Keywords: Adhesion; caesarean section; striae distensae; vitamin D.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest is declared by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of study population according to severity of stria gravidarum, Fitzpatrick skin type, and grade of intra-abdominal adhesions in cesarean birth SG: Striae gravidarum
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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