title: First trimester placental volume and vascular indices in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze placental volume and vascularization at first trimester in women with pre-eclampsia, and secondarily, the effect of maternal characteristics on placental development and perinatal outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cohort study including women seen between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy. Biophysical and biochemical markers included in the screening program for aneuploidy were recorded. Placental volume and vascularization indices were obtained using three-dimensional power-Doppler imaging and Virtual Organ Computer-aided Analysis (VOCAL) techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We compared 84 women with pre-eclampsia versus 904 non-affected. Placental volume and all vascular indices were lower in those with pre-eclampsia. Multivariate analysis showed that parity and maternal weight had a significant effect on placental volume and vascularization indices (p = 0.004 and p = 0.011). In women with pre-eclampsia, multiparity showed a negative effect on placental volume, gestational age, birth weight and Apgar test score. By contrast, in the non-affected group, multiparity had a protective effect. Low maternal weight had a significantly worse effect on placental vascularization and perinatal outcomes in women with pre-eclampsia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with pre-eclampsia showed significantly lower placental volume and vascularization indices at first trimester. Multiparity and low maternal weight independently exacerbated the negative effects of pre-eclampsia on placental characteristics and perinatal outcomes. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Hospiten Group, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Plasencia
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Matemáticas, Estadística e Investigación Operativa, Universidad de La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: González-Dávila
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González Lorenzo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Armas-González
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Padrón
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Nieves L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: González-González
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D055815:Young Adult