Association Between Fetal Thymus Size and Intrauterine Growth Restriction

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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The predictive value of fetal middle cerebral artery/descending aorta ratio doppler parameter in the evaluation of perinatal results of intrauterine growth restriction

European Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine ◽

10.15584/ejcem.2020.4.2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 268-274

Author(s):

Gokmen Sukgen ◽

◽

Omer Kaya ◽

Keyword(s):

Middle Cerebral Artery ◽

Cerebral Artery ◽

Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽

Perinatal Outcomes ◽

Growth Restriction ◽

Control Group ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Descending Aorta ◽

Intrauterine Growth ◽

Doppler Parameter

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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Comparison of Diagnostic Efficacy of Umbilical Artery and Middle Cerebral Artery Waveform with Color Doppler Study for Detection of Intrauterine Growth Restriction

The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India ◽

10.1007/s13224-012-0326-6 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 63 (4) ◽

pp. 249-255 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sachin Khanduri ◽

Umesh C. Parashari ◽

Shazia Bashir ◽

Samarjit Bhadury ◽

Anurag Bansal

Keyword(s):

Middle Cerebral Artery ◽

Cerebral Artery ◽

Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽

Umbilical Artery ◽

Color Doppler ◽

Growth Restriction ◽

Diagnostic Efficacy ◽

Intrauterine Growth ◽

Doppler Study

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Diagnostic Value of Fetal Thymus Size in Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research ◽

10.9734/jammr/2021/v33i1831052 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 43-50

Author(s):

Mohamed Mosaad Elshishiny ◽

Mohamed Mohsen Elnamoury ◽

Ayman Abd Elaziz Aldorf ◽

Essmat Hamdy AboZeid

Keyword(s):

Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽

Perinatal Outcomes ◽

Growth Restriction ◽

Control Group ◽

Fetal Thymus ◽

Intrauterine Growth ◽

Doppler Study ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Adverse Perinatal Outcomes ◽

Thymus Size

Background: Changes in thymus size and histopathology have been observed both in animal models of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the size of the fetal thymus by sonography in pregnancies with IUGR and to search for a possible relationship between a fetal thymus size and adverse perinatal outcomes. Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out on 100 participants who were divided into two groups. Group A: Study group which include 50 patients with IUGR. Group B: Control group which Include 50 normal patients with appropriate gestational age. All patients were subjected to: History taking: (Personal, Obstetric History, Maternal Medical History) and trans-abdominal ultrasound. Results: IUGR group show statistically significant decrease in the estimate of fetal weight (EFW) compared to the control group (P<0.05). Doppler study of umbilical artery shows significant increase of (pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI) and systolic/diastolic (S/D) in IUGR group when compared to control group. Doppler study of middle cerebral artery (MCA) shows significant increase in (RI, SD) in IUGR group when compared to control group while PI doesn’t show significant difference between two groups. Thymus size decrease in IUGR group when compared to the control group. IUGR group had low survival and lower APGR Score when compared to the control group. Correlation between thymus size with the studied doppler parameters and pregnancy outcome in the current study. Umbilical Doppler RI, PI and SD showed statistically significance in this study (P<0.05) and this means that the blood flow in the umbilical arterial (UA) is important for the fetus. As regard the MCA RI and SD Doppler, they show statistically significance in this study (P<0.05) while the MCA PI Doppler did not show any statistically significance in this study (P>0.05). Conclusions: IUGR is associated with small thymus and small fetal thymus may be an early indicator of adverse perinatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by IUGR.

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Is ProBNP a New Marker for Predicting Intrauterine Growth Restriction?

Zeitschrift für Geburtshilfe und Neonatologie ◽

10.1055/a-1382-8787 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 225 (02) ◽

pp. 125-128

Author(s):

Hasan Eroğlu ◽

Nazan Vanlı Tonyalı ◽

Gokcen Orgul ◽

Derya Biriken ◽

Aykan Yucel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽

Final Analysis ◽

First Trimester ◽

Maternal Serum ◽

Growth Restriction ◽

Control Group ◽

Aneuploidy Screening ◽

Intrauterine Growth ◽

Potential Marker ◽

The Mean

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the usability of first-trimester maternal serum ProBNP levels in the prediction of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Methods In this prospective study, blood samples taken from 500 women who applied to our polyclinic for routine serum aneuploidy screening between the 11–14th gestational weeks were centrifuged. The obtained plasma samples were placed in Eppendorf tubes and stored at −80+°C. For the final analysis, first-trimester maternal serum ProBNP levels of 32 women diagnosed with postpartum IUGR and 32 healthy women randomly selected as the control group were compared. FGR was defined as estimated fetal weight below the 10th percentile for the gestational age. Results The mean ProBNP levels were statistically and significantly higher in the women with intrauterine growth restriction (113.73±94.69 vs. 58.33±47.70 pg/mL, p<0.01). At a cut-off level of 50.93, ProBNP accurately predicted occurrence of IUGR (AUC+= 0.794 (95% confidence interval 0.679–0.910), p+= 0.001) with sensitivity and specificity rates of 78.1 and 69.0%, respectively. Conclusion First-trimester serum ProBNP level was significantly higher in women who developed IUGR compared to healthy controls. First-trimester ProBNP level can be used as a potential marker to predict the development of IUGR in pregnant women.

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Mean Platelet Volume is Affected in Term Fetuses with Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Zeitschrift für Geburtshilfe und Neonatologie ◽

10.1055/a-1177-1773 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Gul Nihal Buyuk ◽

Z.Asli Oskovi-Kaplan ◽

Aysegul Oksuzoglu ◽

H.Levent Keskin

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Mean Platelet Volume ◽

Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽

Growth Restriction ◽

Control Group ◽

Platelet Volume ◽

Intrauterine Growth ◽

Potential Marker ◽

The Mean

Abstract Objectives The aim of our study was to analyze the mean platelet volume levels as a potential marker of altered placentation in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) cases. Methods A total of 126 term singleton pregnant women with IUGR fetuses and 345 healthy pregnant controls were recruited and compared. Results The mean platelet volume was significantly higher in the IUGR group (10.8±0.9 fl) than the control group (9.9±1.1 fl) (p=0.03). The mean hemoglobin was lower in IUGR group (11.3 (8.3–14.5) g/dl) than the control group (11.9 (8.2–13.0) g/dl) (p=0.04). The optimal cut-off MPV for prediction of IUGR was ≥10.55 fl, with a sensitivity of 59% and a specificity of 75%. Conclusion Increased MPV levels in term pregnant women may be particularly helpful for discrimination and prediction of high-risk fetuses when IUGR is suspected.

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