Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Merrett A, Campos A, Knipe H, et al. Amniotic fluid sludge (ultrasound). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 15 Jan 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-160705
Amniotic fluid sludge is a finding in obstetric transvaginal ultrasound scanning. Defined as free-floating hyperechogenic material in close proximity to the cervical internal os within the amniotic cavity of women with intact fetal membranes 1. It images as a dense, homogenous mass 2.
Amniotic fluid sludge represents a collection of bacterial and inflammatory cells embedded in an amorphous material consistent with microbial biofilm 3. On aspiration, amniotic fluid sludge is usually cloudy and thick with an elevated white cell count and may be due to a microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity 1.
Amniotic fluid sludge has been identified as a potential marker of adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. Amniotic fluid sludge is associated with spontaneous pre-term labor and, therefore, lower gestational age at birth, lower neonatal birthweight, and increased neonatal intensive care unit admission rate and neonatal death 4.
It is also usually associated with a shortened cervical length; when the patient presents with both aspects, the pre-term labor risk increases 5.
It is proposed that amniotic fluid sludge is an indicator of intra-amniotic microbial invasion correlating with histological chorioamnionitis and funisitis 6.
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1. Romero R, Kusanovic J, Espinoza J et al. What is Amniotic Fluid 'Sludge'? Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2007;30(5):793-8. doi:10.1002/uog.5173 - Pubmed
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2. Kantorowska A, Kunzier N, Kidd J, Vintzileos A. Ultrasound Differential Diagnosis Between Amniotic Fluid Sludge and Blood Clot from Placental Edge Separation. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2022;227(3):528-30. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2022.04.040 - Pubmed
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3. Jin W, Ha Kim Y, Kim J, Kim T, Kim A, Yang Y. Antibiotic Treatment of Amniotic Fluid "Sludge" in Patients During the Second or Third Trimester with Uterine Contraction. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2021;153(1):119-24. doi:10.1002/ijgo.13425 - Pubmed
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4. Pergialiotis V, Bellos I, Antsaklis A, Loutradis D, Daskalakis G. Presence of Amniotic Fluid Sludge and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2020;99(11):1434-43. doi:10.1111/aogs.13893 - Pubmed
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5. Cuff R, Carter E, Taam R et al. Effect of Antibiotic Treatment of Amniotic Fluid Sludge. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2020;2(1):100073. doi:10.1016/j.ajogmf.2019.100073 - Pubmed
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6. Paules C, Moreno E, Gonzales A, Fabre E, González de Agüero R, Oros D. Amniotic Fluid Sludge as a Marker of Intra-Amniotic Infection and Histological Chorioamnionitis in Cervical Insufficiency: A Report of Four Cases and Literature Review. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2016;29(16):2681-4. doi:10.3109/14767058.2015.1101445 - Pubmed
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