P07.13: Intrauterine growth restriction: correlation between perinatal outcome and Doppler study of middle cerebral artery

Introduction. Although there are various reasons for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), the main cause is inadequate utero- placental and feto-placental circulation. Aim. To determine the predictive values of fetal middle cerebral artery/descending aorta (MCA/DA) Doppler parameter in the evaluation of perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with IUGR. Material and methods. 15 with IUGR and 35 normal newborn, who were born at the 34th gestational week or over included into the study. Doppler ultrasonography (US) measurements were performed. The ratio of pulsatility index/resistive index (PI/ RI) from MCA, umbilical artery (Umb), DA was determined. Neonatal characteristics such as Apgar scores, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) requirement, weight and sex were also recorded. Results. In the IUGR group, mean MCA/DA RI-PI, MCA/UmB RI-PI were 0.88±0.19, 0.86±0.28, 1.22±0.18 and 1.55±0.39, respectively. In the control group, mean MCA/DA RI-PI, MCA/UmB RI-PI were 1.15±0.13, 1.09±0.41, 1.37±0.35 and 1.82±0.44, respectively. There were statistically significant relationship between MCA/DA PI with cord blood pH value and NICU requirement, age with gravida, parity, MCA/UmB RI, MCA/UmB PI; gravida with age and parity; parity with age, gravida, weight, MCA/DA RI, PI ratios. Conclusion. Intrauterine MCA and DA Doppler US parameters of IUGR can be used safely in predicting perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with IUGR over 34 weeks.

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Association Between Fetal Thymus Size and Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography ◽

10.1177/87564793211054747 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 875647932110547

Author(s):

Elham Keshavarz ◽

Marjan Rustazade Sheikhyusefi ◽

Ensi Khalili Pouya ◽

Masoumeh Mirzamoradi ◽

Mehdi Khazaei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Middle Cerebral Artery ◽

Cerebral Artery ◽

Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽

Umbilical Artery ◽

Growth Restriction ◽

Control Group ◽

Fetal Thymus ◽

Intrauterine Growth ◽

The Mean ◽

Thymus Size

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between reduced fetal thymus size and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This study was devised to determine the association between thymus size and any abnormal Doppler indices within the fetal umbilical artery (UA), as well as the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Materials and Methods: Forty-six pregnancies between 20 and 38 weeks of gestation with IUGR and 46 normal pregnancies within similar gestational age (GA) range were included. The transverse diameter of fetal thymus was measured. In the IUGR group, the fetal umbilical artery (UA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) Doppler flow velocities were recorded. Results: The mean GA of fetuses with IUGR (33.5 weeks) was higher than control group (30.3 weeks). To adjust for the effect of GA, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed. The adjusted mean thymus diameters were 19.02 mm in IUGR and 21.25 within the control group (mean difference = 2.23 mm; P = .02). The mean (±SD) thymus size in 16 fetuses, with abnormal Doppler findings, was significantly lower than in the group with normal Doppler findings, 17.45 (±2.50) vs 22.02 (±5.39) mm; P < .001. Conclusion: IUGR may be associated with reduced fetal thymus size, especially when coupled with abnormal Doppler findings. The thymus size in a group of IUGR fetuses, with abnormal Doppler findings, was smaller than IUGR fetuses, with normal Doppler findings.

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