Examination of placental three-dimensional power Doppler indices and perinatal outcome in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction.
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).


CONCLUSIONS
Placental vascularization was reduced in pregnancies complicated by IUGR.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary. Electronic address: molnar.andras.1@med.u-szeged.hu.
András
A
Molnár
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
Andrea
A
Surányi
Department of Medical Physics and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
Tibor
T
Nyári
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
Gábor
G
Németh
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
Attila
A
Pál
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D021041:Placental Circulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*
Body mass index; Intrauterine growth restriction; Perinatal outcome; Placental vascularization; Pregnancy care; Three-dimensional power Doppler indices; Ultrasonography