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. 2025 Dec 6.
doi: 10.1002/jum.70148. Online ahead of print.

Lower Plasma Antioxidant Defense and Heat Shock Proteins Mark Intra-Amniotic Sludge Ultrasound Finding

Clarissa Chavez Ortiz Roberto  1 , Lílian Corrêa Costa-Beber  1   2 , Lucas Machado Sulzbacher  1 , Jaíne Borges Dos Santos  1 , Anna Karolina Kretschmann Florencio de Souza Bagetti  1 , Eduardo Becker Jr  3 , Matias Nunes Frizzo  1 , Thiago Gomes Heck  1   4 , Mirna Stela Ludwig  1
Affiliations

Lower Plasma Antioxidant Defense and Heat Shock Proteins Mark Intra-Amniotic Sludge Ultrasound Finding

Clarissa Chavez Ortiz Roberto et al. J Ultrasound Med. .

Abstract

Objectives: Intra-amniotic sludge is an independent risk factor for preterm birth. It consists of a biophysical sonographic finding in the amniotic fluid, formed by dense echogenic particles near the cervical internal orifice, due to sterile or infectious inflammatory processes. High-risk pregnancies are usually marked by oxidative stress, which is one of the main triggers for 70 kDa-heat shock proteins (HSP70) expression and release. In the blood, eHSP70 marks cellular stress or damage and plays roles in immune-inflammatory responses. However, the association between sludge, oxidative stress and eHSP70 remained unclear until now. The objective of this study is to evaluate if plasma eHSP70 and redox parameters could distinguish subpopulations with sludge or not.

Methods: We recruited women seeking routine ultrasonography in the second trimester of gestation that met the inclusion criteria. They underwent transvaginal ultrasonography, completed the clinical survey, and provided blood samples for analysis.

Results: Women with sludge exhibited lower antioxidant defense, and eHSP70 levels. They also presented significant changes in the hemogram, suggesting an increase in immune tolerance. In this population, lower HSP70 is associated with a better immunological scenario and proper cervical length to the gestational age.

Conclusion: Blood parameters, oxidative parameters and eHSP70 can indicate intra-amniotic inflammation.

Keywords: heat shock proteins; intra‐amniotic inflammation; leukocytes; oxidative stress; pregnancy.

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References

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