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Introduction: Placental perfusion can be evaluated using three-dimensional power-Doppler (3DPD) indices with sonobiopsy acquisition in a sphere or throughout the entire placenta., Objective: We aimed to explore the relation between these two measurement methods., Method: A prospective cohort study was conducted among normal pregnant women recruited at 11 to 40 gestational weeks. Placental vascularization was evaluated using the 3DPD indices (vascularization index [VI]; flow index [FI]; vascularization flow index [VFI]) with the application of the sphere ultrasound technique or scanned from the entire placenta., Results: A total of 150 women were recruited at a mean gestational age of 20.8 ± 7.22 weeks. We observed that scanned 3DPD indices using sphere technique decrease by gestational age between 11 and 40 weeks, whereas whole placental volume scanning yielded stable, non-decreasing indices during gestation. The indices were correlated to each other at least moderately, irrespectively of the method of scanning (r≥0.30)., Limitations: As gestation advances, less and less placentas can be visualized in one sweep for a whole view and at late period of gestation only a minority of placentas can be visualized as a whole., Conclusion: 3DPD indices acquired in a sphere of the placenta at umbilical cord insertion may reflect more to the decreasing vascularity of the exponentially growing placenta during gestation. Hence, sphere technique may have a greater screening opportunity in pathological pregnancies. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(8): 300-307.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate and compare placental vascularization indices between monochorionic-diamniotic, dichorionic-diamniotic normal twin pregnancies, and normal singular pregnancies. We hypothesized that there is correlation between placental three-dimensional power Doppler vascularization indices and birth weight in case of twin pregnancies, and that normal singular pregnancies have higher placental vascularization indices than normal twin pregnancies., Study Design: Placental three-dimensional power Doppler vascularization indices, such as vascularization index, flow index, and vascularization-flow index were measured in monochorionic-diamniotic (N = 15) and dichorionic-diamniotic (N = 36) normal twin pregnancies, and in normal singular (N = 109) pregnancies. Correlations were analyzed between vascularization indices, and birth weight, APGAR score, umbilical pH, umbilical venous bicarbonate, lactate, and base excess., Results: Vascularization indices and birth weight were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in normal singular gestations (vascularization index = 10.36, flow index = 46.08, vascularization-flow index = 4.08, average birth weight = 3377 g at 38.2 weeks average gestational age) compared to monochorionic-diamniotic and dichorionic-diamniotic normal twin pregnancies. No significant differences were found in vascularization indices between monochorionic-diamniotic and dichorionic-diamniotic normal twins. There were no significant differences in APGAR score, umbilical pH, umbilical venous bicarbonate, lactate, and base excess between groups examined (p < 0.01). We found strong linear correlations between placental vascularization indices and birth weight in both twin groups., Conclusion: Placental three-dimensional power Doppler vascularization indices seem appropriate for predicting birth weight in monochorionic-diamniotic and dichorionic-diamniotic normal twin pregnancies. Our pilot study revealed reference values for vascularization indices in case of twin pregnancies examined., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Development of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) can be traced back to maternal or fetal factors, but in many cases we find placental factors (reduced placental circulation) in the background., Aim: Our aim was to examine whether the reduced placental bloodperfusion and vascularity show any correlation with cesarean section frequency and the clinical outcome in IUGR pregnancies. The aim of the present study was also to use a properly calibrated and reproducible method for evaluating placental blood flow, that can later be incorporated into the routine examination., Method: 254 women were recruited in our prospective case-control study. The 3 dimensional power Doppler (3DPD) ultrasound indices; vascularisation index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI) were measured on each participant., Results: 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 value 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., Conclusions: The 3DPD indices may be useful for examining changes in circulation in IUGR pregnancies to characterize the underlying pathology. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(26): 1008-1013.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess three-dimensional placental power Doppler indices in second and third trimester of pregnancies complicated by chronic-, gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia., Methods: We analyzed 226 pregnancies prospectively measuring three-dimensional placental power Doppler indices (vascularization index, flow index, vascularization flow index) in cases of normal blood pressure (N=109), chronic hypertension (N=43), gestational hypertension (N=57) and pre-eclampsia (N=17). We evaluated the correlation among vascularization indices, flow characteristics of uterine arteries and perinatal outcome. We assessed the influence of maternal factors (pregestational body mass index, previous pregnancies/deliveries, maternal age) on vascularization indices, and analyzed histological findings of placenta from pregnancy hypertension groups., Results: Vascularization index was significantly higher (p=0.010) in pregnancies with chronic- and lower (p=0.152) in pregnancies with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia compared to the normal group. Flow index was significantly lower in all three pathological groups compared to normal group. Placental volume was significantly smaller (p<0.001) in all three pathological groups than in normal pregnancies at the time of delivery, and there was no significant difference between the three affected groups. The rate of adverse pregnancy outcomes showed no significant difference between the normal and chronic hypertension groups. We observed significantly lower 1', 5' and 10' APGAR scores (p<0.,001), and birth weight in preeclampsia compared to chronic-, gestational hypertension, and normal groups. Maternal factors had no influence on the development of the power Doppler indices., Conclusion: Vascularization indices seem good markers for the prediction of risks and adverse outcomes in case of pregnancy hypertension., (Copyright © 2017 International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to determine the utility of a new mathematical model in volumetric assessment of the placenta using 2-D ultrasound. Placental volumetry was performed in a prospective cross-sectional survey by virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) with the help of a shell-off method in 346 uncomplicated pregnancies according to STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines. Furthermore, placental thickness, length and height were measured with the 2-D technique to estimate placental volume based on the mathematical formula for the volume of "the shell of the spherical sector." Fetal size was also assessed by 2-D sonography. The placental volumes measured by 2-D and 3-D techniques had a correlation of 0.86. In the first trimester, the correlation was 0.82, and later during pregnancy, it was 0.86. Placental volumetry using "the circle-shaped shell of the spherical sector" mathematical model with 2-D ultrasound technique may be introduced into everyday practice to screen for placental volume deviations associated with adverse pregnancy outcome., (Copyright © 2015 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

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)., Conclusion: Placental vascularization was reduced in pregnancies complicated by IUGR., (Copyright © 2014 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aims: The object of this study was to investigate the fetal renal and middle cerebral arterial blood flows in patients with normal and hyperechogenic kidneys during the fetal period., Material and Methods: Study group consisted of 82 pregnancies with intrauterine growth retardation. Group included pregnant women from the third trimester. Hyperechogenic medullae were detected in 17 out of 82 pregnancies with intrauterine growth retardation., Results: Fetal renal hyperechogenicity appears to be an indicator of fetal arterial circulatory depression, correlated with pathological changes in the pulsatility index for the fetal renal arteries. The fetal renal arterial blood flow pulsatility index was significantly lower in hyperechogenic cases, while in the middle cerebral artery flow was in the normal range. This may also be an indication of subsequent intrauterine and neonatal complications, such as cesarean section because of fetal distress (47%), treatment in a neonatal intensive care unit (71%) or increased perinatal mortality (12%) in our cases., Conclusions: Detailed ultrasound of renal parenchyma and Doppler examination of renal and middle cerebral arteries appear to be an useful method in the prenatal diagnosis of reduced renal perfusion and of intrauterine hypoxia so as to detect possible pathological fetal conditions in utero.

Aims: The object of this study was to investigate the fetal biparietal diameter/kidney length ratio in normal and hyperechogenic kidneys during the third trimester of gestation., Material and Methods: The selected cases were characterized by pregnancy-associated hypertension and/or proteinuria, which was associated with fetal hypoxia due to the depression of placental blood flow. Depending on the renal manifestation of intrauterine chronic hypoxia, cases were divided into two study groups. Group I was composed of 21 fetuses with pregnancy-associated hypertension and/or proteinuria and hyperechogenic renal medullae. Group II consisted of 162 fetuses with pregnancy-associated hypertension and/or proteinuria and normal echoic kidney. Both study groups included pregnant women from the third trimester., Results: Fetal renal hyperechogenicity correlated with the pathological growth of fetal kidney. The fetal biparietal diameter/kidney length ratio was significantly lower in cases of hyperechogenicity., Conclusions: The fetal renal hyperechogenicity is a relevant indicator of diminution of fetal renal perfusion. This can lead to abnormal development of the affected kidney and can result in a pathological reduction of biparietal diameter/kidney length ratio, which may also be an in utero indicator of subsequent intrauterine and neonatal complications. Detailed ultrasound examinations of renal parenchyma and kidney length seem to be a useful method in the prenatal diagnosis of decreased renal perfusion and of intrauterine hypoxia and serve to detect pathological conditions in utero.