Journal Health of Woman. 2026. 3(184): 65-70. doi: 10.15574/HW.2026.3(184).6570
Рrуlutska A. B., Solovyova G. A., Domashchuk B. В., Govsieiev D. O.
Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine

For citation: Рrуlutska AB, Solovyova GA, Domashchuk BВ, Govsieiev DO (2026). Advanced non-invasive approach for early diagnosis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in pregnant women. Ukrainian Journal Health of Woman. 3(184): 65-70. doi: 10.15574/HW.2026.3(184).6570
Article received: Mar 16, 2026. Accepted for publication: Jun 01, 2026.

Aim – to evaluate the presence and nature of the relationships between quantitative ultrasound steatometry parameters, two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE), lipid profile parameters, and pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) in pregnant women with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
Materials and methods. A total of 111 pregnant women in the II–III trimesters of gestation were examined. Two groups were formed: the main group — 76 pregnant women with MASLD and cardiometabolic risk factors (overweight, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia); the control group — 35 somatically healthy women with a physiological course of pregnancy. The examination was performed using a Samsung Medison V7 expert-class ultrasound system. Quantitative parameters of steatosis were evaluated: tissue attenuation imaging (TAI), tissue scattering imaging (TSI), fat fraction, and parenchymal stiffness. Laboratory tests of the blood lipid spectrum (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), non-HDL cholesterol, atherogenic index) were conducted, and pre-pregnancy BMI was determined.
Results. In pregnant women with MASLD, a strong direct correlation was found between TAI parameters and the levels of triglycerides and non-HDL cholesterol, which retains statistical significance regardless of pre-pregnancy BMI. Parenchymal stiffness was shown to correlate with pre-pregnancy BMI and levels of atherogenic lipoproteins. Due to chronic lipotoxic stress, hepatic stellate cells are activated, which stimulates chronic inflammation and leads to a statistically significant increase in parenchymal stiffness as early as the second half of pregnancy.
Conclusions. Comprehensive assessment of steatosis quantifiers (TAI) and liver stiffness, combined with the lipid profile and pre-pregnancy BMI, provides precise objectification of metabolic disorders in pregnant women with MASLD, allowing for the timely identification of high obstetric and perinatal risk groups.
The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from the patients.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Keywords: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, pregnancy, steatometry, elastography, lipid profile, body mass index.

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