An observational study in Hydronephrosis and Pregnancy, sponsored by Beni-Suef University. Recruiting at 1 site in Egypt. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-27.
Sponsored by Beni-Suef University · Observational
Hydronephrosis is common during pregnancy and is often physiological; however, it may also result from true obstruction requiring intervention. Differentiating between physiological and obstructive hydronephrosis remains a clinical challenge using conventional ultrasound.
This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of renal cortical stiffness measured by shear wave elastography (SWE) in differentiating obstructive from physiological hydronephrosis in pregnant women. Participants presenting with hydronephrosis will undergo clinical assessment, laboratory investigations, and ultrasound evaluation including SWE measurements.
The diagnostic performance of SWE will be assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and optimal cut-off values will be determined. The study aims to provide a safe, non-invasive, and quantitative tool to improve diagnosis and guide management in pregnant patients with hydronephrosis.
This is a prospective observational diagnostic accuracy study conducted at Beni-Suef University Hospital from April 2026 to April 2027.
Pregnant women aged 18 years or older, at ≥12 weeks of gestation, presenting with loin pain and sonographic evidence of hydronephrosis will be included. Patients with chronic kidney disease, congenital renal anomalies, preeclampsia, or poor acoustic window will be excluded.
All participants will undergo clinical evaluation, laboratory investigations, and conventional ultrasound assessment including hydronephrosis grading and cortical thickness measurement. Renal cortical stiffness will be assessed using shear wave elastography (SWE). Measurements will be obtained with the patient in a semi-left lateral position, with the region of interest placed within the renal cortex at a depth of 1.5-3.5 cm. Ten valid measurements will be recorded for each kidney, and the median value will be used for analysis.
Measurements will be performed at baseline, with follow-up at 2-4 weeks, after any intervention (if applicable), and 6-8 weeks postpartum.
The reference standard for diagnosing obstructive hydronephrosis will be based on clinical course, need for intervention (e.g., ureteral stenting or nephrostomy), and postpartum resolution of hydronephrosis.
The primary outcome is the diagnostic accuracy of SWE, assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Secondary outcomes include determination of optimal SWE cut-off values and correlation with hydronephrosis grade and cortical thickness.
Statistical analysis will include ROC curve analysis, calculation of sensitivity and specificity, logistic regression analysis, and assessment of reproducibility using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). A p-value \<0.05 will be considered statistically significant.
55 studies on the registry are indexed under Hydronephrosis; 9 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 250 is above the median of 78 across 25 observational studies indexed under Hydronephrosis.
Browse Hydronephrosis studies →Beni-Suef University is the lead sponsor of 349 studies on the registry; 125 are open to participants now.
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Pregnant women aged 18 years or older presenting with loin pain and sonographic evidence of hydronephrosis at Beni-Suef University Hospital.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Pregnant women ≥12 weeks gestation with Loin Pain.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Pregnant women with hydronephrosis undergoing clinical assessment and SWE. Participants will be classified post hoc into physiological or obstructive hydronephrosis based on final diagnosis.
Diagnostic Test: Shear Wave Elastography (SWE)
Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a non-invasive ultrasound-based imaging technique used to measure renal cortical stiffness. In this study, SWE is performed as a diagnostic assessment tool in pregnant women with hydronephrosis to evaluate its ability to differentiate between obstructive and physiological causes. No therapeutic intervention is applied.
Diagnostic accuracy of shear wave elastography (SWE) in differentiating obstructive from physiological hydronephrosis
Diagnostic performance of renal cortical stiffness measured by SWE will be evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, including area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity based on final diagnosis.
Time frame: Baseline assessment at presentation
Optimal SWE cut-off value for detecting obstructive hydronephrosis
Determination of the optimal renal cortical stiffness cut-off value using ROC analysis to differentiate obstructive from physiological hydronephrosis.
Time frame: Baseline assessment at presentation
Plan to share: Undecided
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