Fetal and placental power Doppler imaging in normal and high-risk pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
Computer analysis of organ power Doppler (PD) imaging has recently become available. The aim of the study was to evaluate gestational trends in placenta-, fetal lung-, liver- and kidney-blood flow in normal pregnancies and relate it to signals in high-risk pregnancies.


METHODS
PD signals were recorded in normal singleton pregnancies between 26 and 42 weeks of gestation. Signals were also recorded in 63 high-risk pregnancies. Fixed preinstalled PD system installations for each organ were used during examinations. Images from PD scan were recorded on video tape and off-line analysed by computer. Mean flow signal intensity was calculated for each organ. Umbilical and uterine artery Doppler velocimetry were also recorded in high-risk pregnancies.


RESULTS
PD signals from the four organs indicated increasing organ blood flow until approximately 34 weeks of gestation, from where the organ signals seemed to decrease. High-risk pregnancies seemed to have lower PD signal intensity, which was more pronounced in cases with signs of placental vascular resistance.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that a decrease in fetal organ blood flow might indicate a centralisation of fetal circulation in normal pregnancy at term, as a physiological response to a decrease in placental perfusion. In the high-risk pregnancies the placental and fetal organ blood flow seem to be even further reduced, suggesting a more intense centralisation of circulation.
Dubiel
M
M
University School of Medical Sciences, Department of Perinatology, University Hospital Poznań, Poznań, Poland.
Kozber
H
H
Debniak
B
B
Breborowicz
G H
GH
Marsal
K
K
Gudmundsson
S
S
D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010920:Placenta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data