Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2012 Jul;55(7):454-460. 10.5468/KJOG.2012.55.7.454.

A longitudinal study of three-dimensional ultrasonographic assessment of the placenta in uncomplicated pregnancies

• Jeong NH
• Yang KY
• Seol HJ
• Jung E

• KMID: 1992554
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/KJOG.2012.55.7.454

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to investigate the relationship between birth weight and 3-dimensional (3D) power Doppler histogram of the placenta in the first- and second-trimester of uncomplicated pregnancies.
METHODS
In this longitudinal study, 3D power Doppler ultrasound was performed in 54 non-smoking women with uncomplicated pregnancies at 10 to 13 weeks of gestation and subsequently at 19 to 22 weeks. A correlation and regression analysis was performed for placental volume (PV) and vascular indices versus clinical and sonographic variables.
RESULTS
All vascular indices of the second-trimester were significantly greater than values of the first-trimester. Placental vascular indices showed an incremental tendency with birth weight, which was only statistically significant when the flow index (FI) of the first-trimester was considered (P=0.02). The PV of both the first- and second-trimester has a negative correlation with FI of the second-trimester.
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that FI of the placenta in the first-trimester significantly affects growth of the fetus and placenta, likely reflecting the degree of placental vascularization during the first-trimester.

Keyword

Three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound; Uncomplicated pregnancy; Placental vascularization

MeSH Terms

Birth Weight
Female
Fetus
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Placenta
Pregnancy

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A scatter plot fitted for flow index (FI) of the first-trimester and birth weight.

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  Fig. 2 A scatter plot fitted for placental volume (PV) of first-trimester and flow index (FI) of second trimester.

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  Fig. 3 A Bland-Altman plot of flow index intraobserver differences.

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  Fig. 4 A Bland-Altman plot of flow index interobserver differences.

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