András Molnár1, Andrea Surányi2, Tibor Nyári3, Gábor Németh2, Attila Pál2. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary. Electronic address: molnar.andras.1@med.u-szeged.hu. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary. 3. Department of Medical Physics and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine placental vascularization using three-dimensional power Doppler (3DPD) ultrasonography in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). METHODS: The present prospective study was conducted at the University of Szeged (Szeged, Hungary) from February 2012 to March 2013. Women with a singleton pregnancy who attended the maternity outpatient ward in the second or third trimester were enrolled consecutively. Women were divided into two groups: those with a normal pregnancy and those with a pregnancy complicated by IUGR. Three 3DPD indices-vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), and vascularization flow index (VFI)-were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 223 women were enrolled: 171 were in the control group and 52 in the IUGR group. Median VI was 3.7% (interquartile range [IQR] 3.2%-4.2%) in the IUGR group and 10.1% (IQR 8.6%-10.9%) in the control group (P=0.001). Median FI was 40.0 (IQR 39.7-42.5) in the IUGR group and 45.1 (IQR 44.1-53.1) in the control group (P=0.012). Median VFI was 2.2 (IQR 2.1-2.4) in the IUGR group and 4.8 (IQR 4.4-5.3) in the control group (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Placental vascularization was reduced in pregnancies complicated by IUGR.
OBJECTIVE: To examine placental vascularization using three-dimensional power Doppler (3DPD) ultrasonography in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). METHODS: The present prospective study was conducted at the University of Szeged (Szeged, Hungary) from February 2012 to March 2013. Women with a singleton pregnancy who attended the maternity outpatient ward in the second or third trimester were enrolled consecutively. Women were divided into two groups: those with a normal pregnancy and those with a pregnancy complicated by IUGR. Three 3DPD indices-vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), and vascularization flow index (VFI)-were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 223 women were enrolled: 171 were in the control group and 52 in the IUGR group. Median VI was 3.7% (interquartile range [IQR] 3.2%-4.2%) in the IUGR group and 10.1% (IQR 8.6%-10.9%) in the control group (P=0.001). Median FI was 40.0 (IQR 39.7-42.5) in the IUGR group and 45.1 (IQR 44.1-53.1) in the control group (P=0.012). Median VFI was 2.2 (IQR 2.1-2.4) in the IUGR group and 4.8 (IQR 4.4-5.3) in the control group (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Placental vascularization was reduced in pregnancies complicated by IUGR.