Category: Ultrasound/Imaging
Poster Session III
We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective observational study of qMRI measures of placental structure and function in healthy and high-risk pregnancies. We included singleton pregnancies >18 weeks gestational age. Cases included pregnancies complicated by HDP or FGR while controls did not have these complications at the time of enrollment. MRI acquisitions were performed on 1.5T GE MRI scanner, with 3D GRE sequences for QSM and T2* measures, and T2W SSFSE for anatomical reference. The entire placenta was manually segmented as the region of interest using ITK-SNAP software; QSM and T2* values were extracted using an in-house pipeline. Generalized linear models were used to compare the primary outcomes (placental T2*, placental QSM and placental QSM variability) between groups while controlling for gestational age at the time of scan.
Results:
A total of 48 studies were included (30 cases and 18 controls). Of the cases, 19 patients had a HDP (7 chronic hypertension; 7 gestational hypertension; 5 preeclampsia) and 11 had FGR. Cases of HDP had lower T2* and higher mean QSM compared to controls, while FGR cases had greater T2* and lower QSM values compared to controls (Table 2), although these did not reach statistical significance. HDP and FGR placentas had a non-significant increase in QSM SD (standard deviation).
Conclusion:
In this pilot, a trend towards decreased placental oxygenation was demonstrated in HDP but not FGR placentas. Larger studies are necessary to confirm these findings.
Lylach Haizler-Cohen, MD (she/her/hers)
MFM/Genetics fellow
Medstar Washington Hospital Center
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Catherine Limperopoulos, PhD
Children's National Hospital
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Kushal Kapse, BS, MS
MRI Research Manager
Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Medical Center
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Yushuf Sharker, BSc, MS, PhD
Biostatistician
Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Medical Center
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Catherine Lopez, MS
Children's National Medical Center
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Nickie N. Andescavage, MD
Children's National Health System
Washington, District of Columbia, United States