OP22.01: Utero‐placental interface vascularity in early pregnancy estimated by 3D fractional moving blood volume (3D FMBV) predicts fetal growth restriction
Year: 2012
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Histopathology has implicated inadequate spiral artery transformation in many adverse pregnancy outcomes. This potentially results in reduced blood flow at the utero-placental interface (UPI). However, assessing this in vivo has been hampered by both imaging and sampling difficulties. We have developed a technique for offline estimation of 3D FMBV using raw data from 3D power Doppler ultrasound (PD-US) volumes, which we used to investigate whether the vascularity of the UPI differed in growth restricted pregnancies. With ethical approval, we recruited 143 women with a singleton pregnancy to an ultrasound scan at 11 to 13 weeks. A PD-US volume of the entire placenta was taken with identical machine settings and the individualised sub-noise gain (as previously published). The placental volume was calculated using a validated semi-automated technique. The FMBV was estimated for the following volumes: the entire UPI (1 mm depth), the UPI + 5 mm into the uterus (the region containing the spiral arteries), the UPI + 5 mm into the placenta (the intervillous space) and the UPI + 3 mm and 5 mm each way. SGA was defined as < 10 customised birth weight centile. Data was analysed using the Mann-Whitney test. Twenty of the 143 women had SGA babies. The FMBV was significantly reduced in the SGA babies compared to the appropriately grown ones for all volumes (see Table 1). OP22.01: Table The blood flow at the UPI is significantly reduced by 11–13 weeks in pregnancies resulting in SGA babies. The technique assessed the whole UPI, so minimising sampling errors. As this is an offline process using purpose designed mathematical algorithms on raw image data obtained from any 3-D machine, it has potential to be part of a screening test for growth restriction.
DOI: 10.1002/uog.11596
Language: English
Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1605540915