Second-trimester measurements of placental volume by three-dimensional ultrasound to predict small-for-gestational-age infants

This prospective observational study aimed to compare the changes in placental vascular indices and placental volume using three-dimensional power Doppler (3DPD) ultrasound in pregnancies with small for gestational age (SGA) neonates. We enrolled 396 women with singleton pregnancies from September 2013 to June 2016. Placental vascular indices, including the vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), and vascularization flow index (VFI), and placental volume were obtained using 3DPD ultrasound in the first and second trimesters. Of the enrolled women, 21 delivered SGA neonates and 375 did not. In the first trimester, the SGA group had a significantly lower mean FI (25.10 ± 7.51 versus 33.10 ± 10.97, p < 0.001) and VFI (4.59 ± 1.95 versus 6.28 ± 2.35, p = 0.001) than the non-SGA group. However, there was no significant difference in the placental volume between the two groups during the first trimester. In the second trimester, the SGA group also had a significantly lower mean FI (27.08 ± 7.97 versus 31.54 ± 11.01, p = 0.022) and VFI (6.68 ± 1.71 versus 8.68 ± 3.09, p < 0.001) than the non-SGA group. In addition, a significantly smaller placental volume was noted in the SGA group (104.80 ± 24.23 cm3 versus 122.67 ± 26.35 cm3, p = 0.003) than in the non-SGA group during the second trimester. The results showed that a decreased placental VFI occurred earlier than a decreased placental volume in SGA pregnancies.

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Second-Trimester Placental Volume and Vascular Indices in the Prediction of Small-for-Gestational-Age Neonates

Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy ◽

10.1159/000365148 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 123-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shih-Wen Fang ◽

Chia-Yu Ou ◽

Ching-Chang Tsai ◽

Hung-Chun Fu ◽

Hsin-Hsin Cheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Small For Gestational Age ◽

Power Doppler ◽

Body Height ◽

3D Ultrasound ◽

Flow Index ◽

Second Trimester ◽

3D Power Doppler ◽

Placental Volume

Objective: To evaluate the ability of second-trimester placental volume and vascular indices to predict small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth weight pregnancies. Material and Methods: Women with singleton pregnancies were prospectively evaluated at 17-20 weeks of gestation. Second-trimester placental volume and vascular indices were obtained and calculated using volume organ computer-aided analysis and three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound. Participants were followed until delivery and their medical records were reviewed, including maternal age, parity and pregestational body weight and body height, as well as the gestational age, birth weight and gender of the fetus. Results: Of the 163 women with complete follow-up, 20 gave birth to SGA and 143 to appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) neonates. The mean second-trimester placental volume was significantly lower in the SGA than in the AGA group (170.6 ± 49.8 vs. 213.5 ± 75.8 cm3, p = 0.015). None of the vascular indices, including the vascularization index, flow index and vascularization flow index, differed significantly between the two groups. We also found that the optimum cutoff for placental volume at a gestational age of 17-18 weeks was 189.7 cm3. Discussion: Second-trimester placental volume was positively correlated with neonatal birth weight. Second-trimester placental volume measured on 3D ultrasound may be predictive of SGA neonates.

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