Prognostic Value of Fetal Thymus Size in Intrauterine Growth Restriction

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 511-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atalay Ekin ◽  
Cenk Gezer ◽  
Cuneyt Eftal Taner ◽  
Ulas Solmaz ◽  
Naciye Sinem Gezer ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
pp. 875647932110547
Author(s):  
Elham Keshavarz ◽  
Marjan Rustazade Sheikhyusefi ◽  
Ensi Khalili Pouya ◽  
Masoumeh Mirzamoradi ◽  
Mehdi Khazaei ◽  
...  

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.


Author(s):  
Mohamed Mosaad Elshishiny ◽  
Mohamed Mohsen Elnamoury ◽  
Ayman Abd Elaziz Aldorf ◽  
Essmat Hamdy AboZeid

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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 1522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Fangfang Zhao ◽  
Haitao Nie ◽  
Tiewei Ma ◽  
Ziyu Wang ◽  
...  

The aims of the present study were to determine whether dietary supplementation with N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) and rumen-protected l-arginine (RP-Arg) to underfed Hu sheep would improve fetal thymus development and immune function. From Day 35 to Day 110 of gestation, 32 Hu ewes carrying twin fetuses were randomly allocated to one of four groups (n = 8 per group): 100% National Research Council (NRC)-recommended nutrient requirements (CON), 50% NRC recommendations (RES), 50% NRC recommendations supplemented with 20 g day−1 RP-Arg (RES+ARG), and 50% NRC recommendations supplemented with 5 g day−1 NCG (RES+NCG). Medullary thickness was increased (P < 0.05) in RES compared with CON ewes, but was reduced (P < 0.05) in both RES+ARG and RES+NCG ewes compared with RES ewes. There were no differences in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity or malondialdehyde levels in the RES+ARG and RES+NCG groups compared with the CON group (P > 0.05). Concentrations of IgA, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 in fetal umbilical cord blood were reduced (P < 0.05) in RES compared with CON ewes, but were increased (P < 0.05) in both RES+ARG and RES+NCG ewes. Expression of Bax, Fas and p53 mRNA was increased (P < 0.05) in RES compared with CON ewes, but were reduced (P > 0.05) in both RES+ARG and RES+NCG ewes. These results indicate that dietary supplementation with NCG and RP-Arg could help alleviate the negative effects of intrauterine growth restriction on fetal thymus development and immune function.


2019 ◽  
pp. 50-54
Author(s):  
V.O. Golyanovskiy ◽  
◽  
Ye.O. Didyk ◽  

Pregnant women with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) have an increased risk of adverse perinatal and long-term complications compared with the birth of children with normal body weight. Thus, IUGR is one of the main challenges for the global health system, especially in poor and developing countries. Morpho-functional studies of the placentas help in determining the causes of IUGR, and therefore, timely prevent complications in pregnant women with IUGR. The objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate various morphometric and pathomorphological changes in the placenta, including inflammatory, in cases of IUGR, and to establish a correlation of these results with the etiology and complications for the fetus. Materials and methods. In the current study, 54 placentas of the fetuses with IUGR (the main group) were compared with 50 placentas of the fetuses with normal development (control group). The criteria for the inclusion of IUGR were gestational age more than 30 weeks and all fetuses with a weight less than 10th percentile for this period of pregnancy. The placenta material was studied pathomorphologically with laboratory screening for infection and inflammation. Similarly, the results were determined for placentas of the fetuses with normal development compared to placentas with IUGR. Results. The placenta study showed the presence of calcification in the case of IUGR, as well as in the case of prolonged pregnancy. However, calcification of the placenta in the case of IUGR was more progressive compared with placenta in the normal pregnancy. In addition, the presence of intrauterine infection and inflammation was observed, which could also lead to an adverse outcome for the further progression of pregnancy with IUGR. Conclusion. A comparative macro- and microscopic pathomorphological study of the placentas in the two groups has shown a significant increase in the pathological changes in all the anatomical structures of the fetuses with IUGR. Key words: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), fetal weight, pathomorphological changes of the placenta.


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