title: First trimester placental volume and three dimensional power doppler ultrasonography in type I diabetic pregnancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the placental volume and three dimensional (3D) power Doppler vascularization in type I diabetic pregnancies during the first trimester
  
  
  METHODS
  3D-power Doppler ultrasonography of the placenta was performed at 11+0-13+6 weeks in 32 pregnancies complicated by type I diabetes. Placental volume, vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), and vascularization flow index (VFI) were calculated using a standardized setting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In nine pregnancies, a poor first trimester glycemic control was present as expressed by HbA1c levels  ≥ 7%, whereas in the remaining 23 mothers, the HbA1c concentrations were <7%. No differences were found in the placental volumes of diabetic mothers when compared with reference limits. 3D Doppler placental vascular indices were significantly higher in diabetic mothers (VI delta value 0.99, p=0.0012; FI delta value 0.64, p=0.0008; VFI delta value 1.28, p=0.0039) when compared with reference limits. Pregnancies with HbA1c ≥ 7% exhibited higher placental vascular indices when compared with diabetic mothers with better glycemic control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In type I diabetic mothers, placental vascular indices are increased and these modifications are more evident in pregnancies with poor first trimester glycemic control.
authors.affiliation: Fetal Medicine Center Genoma, Rome, Italy. giuseppe.rizzo@uniroma2.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capponi
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pietrolucci
authors.forename: Eloisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aiello
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arduini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal