title: Three-dimensional power Doppler placental vascularisation indices in early pregnancy: a pilot study.
abstract: The objective of our study was to assess 1st trimester placental vascularisation using three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler vascular indices. A cross-sectional study was used involving 41 normal pregnancies from 7 to 10 + 6 weeks. Placental volume was obtained using the 30° virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) method. The mean, median, standard deviation (SD), minimum and maximum values were calculated for three vascular indices: the VI, vascularisation index; the FI, flow index and the VFI, vascularisation and flow index. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was used to assess the correlation between vascular indices and crown-rump length (CRL). Our results showed mean (± SD) values ranged from 8.66 ± 12.04 to 15.34 ± 13.89 for the VI, from 63.83 ± 43.61 to 109.22 ± 33.87 for the FI and from 9.52 ± 13.86 to 20.59 ± 22.97 for the VFI. There was no correlation between CRL and VI (r = 0.073, p = 0.630) nor VFI (r = 0.147 and p = 0.037); there was a weak correlation between CRL and FI (r = 0.332, p = 0.037). It was concluded that the FI was the only 3D power Doppler vascular index that was correlated with CRL between 7 and 10 + 6 weeks' gestation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, São Paulo Federal University (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. araujojred@terra.com.br
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Araujo Júnior
authors.forename: L M M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nardozza
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Rolo
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Guimarães Filho
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Moron
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler