Role of First-trimester 3D Power Doppler of Placental Blood Flow and 3D
Placental Volume in Early Prediction of Preeclampsia
Abstract
Objective: First-trimester uterine artery Doppler was declared as a
useful tool for predicting preeclampsia. Placental volume and vascular
indices were recently used to predict preeclampsia. The study aims to
assess the role of the first-trimester 3D placental volume and power
Doppler of placental vascular indices combined with the uterine artery
Doppler indices in prediction of preeclampsia. Design: A prospective
cohort study Sample: 2019 women with a singleton pregnancy in their
first-trimester. Methods: At 11-13+ weeks of gestation, 3D
trans-abdominal ultrasound with Doppler scan for all participants then
they were followed up until delivery. Main Outcome Measures: 3D
placental volume, 3D Power Doppler of placental blood flow and uterine
artery Doppler in the first trimester. Results: 163 women developed
preeclampsia while 1856 women were normotensive. In the preeclampsia
group, the placental volume, placental vascular indices (VI, FI, and
VFI) showed a significant decrease, while means uterine PI and RI showed
a significant increase. The placental vascular indices (VI, FI, and VFI)
showed higher sensitivity while the placental volume and the uterine
artery Doppler indices (PI and RI) showed higher specificity for the
prediction of preeclampsia. Conclusion: Combined early screening of
uterine artery Doppler with placental volume and vascular indices could
be beneficial to increase the accuracy of early prediction of
preeclampsia. Funding: There is no specific grant from any funding
agency. Keywords: 3D-Doppler ultrasonography; placental volume;
placental vascular indices; uterine artery Doppler; preeclampsia