MRI estimated placental perfusion in fetal growth assessment

• ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate placental perfusion fraction estimated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in vivo as a marker of placental function.MethodsThe study population included 35 pregnant women, of whom 13 had preeclampsia, examined at gestational weeks 22 to 40. Each woman underwent, within a 24 hour period: a MRI diffusion-weighted sequence (from which we calculated the placental perfusion fraction); venous blood sampling; and an ultrasound examination including estimation of fetal weight, amniotic fluid index and Doppler velocity measurements. We compared the perfusion fraction in pregnancies with and without fetal growth restriction and estimated correlations between the perfusion fraction and ultrasound estimates and plasma markers with linear regression. The associations between the placental perfusion fraction and ultrasound estimates were modified by the presence of preeclampsia (p < 0.05) and therefore we included an interaction term between preeclampsia and the covariates in the models.ResultsThe median placental perfusion fraction in pregnancies with and without fetal growth restriction was 21% and 32%, respectively (p = 0.005). The correlations between the placental perfusion fraction and ultrasound estimates and plasma markers were highly significant (p-values 0.002 to 0.0001). The highest coefficient of determination (R2= 0.56) for placental perfusion fraction was found for a model including pulsatility index in ductus venosus, plasma level of sFlt1, estimated fetal weight and presence of preeclampsia.ConclusionThe placental perfusion fraction has potential to contribute to the clinical assessment in cases of placental insufficiency.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Radiologi och bildbehandling (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Intrauterine growth restriction

Small for gestational age

Magnetic resonance imaging

Placenta

Perfusion

Perfusion fraction

Medical Science

Medicinsk vetenskap

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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