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Seiter D, Chen R, Ludwig KD, Zhu A, Shah D, Wieben O, Johnson KM. Velocity-selective arterial spin labeling perfusion measurements in 2nd trimester human placenta with varying BMI. Placenta 2024; 150:72-79. [PMID: 38615536 PMCID: PMC11065564 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2024.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Proper placental development is crucial to fetal health but is challenging to functionally assess non-invasively and is thus poorly characterized in populations. Body mass index (BMI) has been linked with adverse outcomes, but the causative mechanism is uncertain. Velocity-selective arterial spin labeling (VS-ASL) MRI provides a method to non-invasively measure placental perfusion with robustness to confounding transit time delays. In this study, we report on the measurement of perfusion in the human placenta in early pregnancy using velocity-selective arterial spin labeling (VS-ASL) MRI, comparing non-obese and obese participants. METHODS Participants (N = 97) undergoing routine prenatal care were recruited and imaged with structural and VS-ASL perfusion MRI at 15 and 21 weeks gestation. Resulting perfusion images were analyzed with respect to obesity based on BMI, gestational age, and the presence of adverse outcomes. RESULTS At 15 weeks gestation BMI was not associated with placental perfusion or perfusion heterogeneity. However, at 21 weeks gestation BMI was associated with higher placental perfusion (p < 0.01) and a decrease in perfusion heterogeneity (p < 0.05). In alignment with past studies, perfusion values were also higher at 21 weeks compared to 15 weeks gestation. In a small cohort of participants with adverse outcomes, at 21 weeks lower perfusion was observed compared to participants with uncomplicated pregnancies. DISCUSSION These results suggest low placental perfusion in the early second trimester may not be the culpable factor driving associations of obesity with adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Seiter
- Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Ruiming Chen
- Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Kai D Ludwig
- Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Ante Zhu
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Dinesh Shah
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Oliver Wieben
- Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Kevin M Johnson
- Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.
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Rajagopalan V, Truong V, Wang S, Lopez J, Rosas V, Borzage M, Votava-Smith JK, Ponrartana S, Panigrahy A, Detterich J, Wood J. Non-invasive in-utero quantification of vascular reactivity in human placenta. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2024; 63:481-488. [PMID: 37820067 DOI: 10.1002/uog.27512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Placental vascular reactivity (PlVR) indicates the ability of the placental vasculature to match blood supply to fetal demand. Many pregnancy disorders alter the characteristics of PlVR, resulting in suboptimal oxygen delivery, although current understanding is limited by the lack of non-invasive, repeatable methods to measure PlVR in utero. Our objective was to quantify PlVR by measuring the placental response to transient changes in maternal carbon dioxide (CO2) using blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We hypothesized that PlVR will increase with gestational age to meet the changing demands of a growing fetus, and that PlVR will be driven by a maternal response to changes in CO2 concentration. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study of 35 women with a healthy singleton pregnancy, of whom 31 were included in the analysis. The median gestational age was 32.6 (range, 22.6-38.4) weeks. Pregnant women were instructed to follow audiovisual breathing cues during a MRI scan. Maternal end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) was measured concurrently with resting placental BOLD MRI for a total of 7-8 min. Preprocessing of magnetic resonance images consisted of manual delineation of placental anatomy and motion correction. In each placental voxel, vascular reactivity was computed using a coherence-weighted general linear model between MRI signal and EtCO2 stimulus. Global PlVR was computed as the mean of voxel-wise PlVR values across the placenta. RESULTS PlVR, quantified by the placental response to induced, transient changes in maternal CO2, was consistently measured in utero using BOLD MRI. PlVR increased non-linearly with advancing gestational age (P < 0.001) and was higher on the fetal side of the placenta. PlVR was associated positively with fetal brain volume after accounting for gestational age. PlVR did not show any significant associations with maternal characteristics. CONCLUSIONS We present, for the first time, a non-invasive paradigm to quantify PlVR in ongoing human pregnancies without the use of exogenous gases or contrast agents. Our findings suggest that PlVR is driven by a fetal response to changes in maternal CO2. Ease of translation to the clinical setting makes PlVR a promising biomarker for the identification and management of high-risk pregnancies. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Rajagopalan
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - V Truong
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - S Wang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - J Lopez
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - V Rosas
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - M Borzage
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - J K Votava-Smith
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - S Ponrartana
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - A Panigrahy
- Pediatric Imaging Research Lab, Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - J Detterich
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - J Wood
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Melbourne A, Schabel MC, David AL, Roberts VHJ. Magnetic resonance imaging of placental Intralobule structure and function in a pre-clinical nonhuman primate model. Biol Reprod 2024:ioae035. [PMID: 38442734 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioae035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The placenta has a critical role in delivery of oxygen and an array of nutrients, hormones, antibodies and other biochemicals to the fetus, as well as the elimination of carbon dioxide and other waste products from the fetal circulation. Interrogating placental function is therefore essential for assessment of fetal and maternal health during gestation. Although the central role of adequate blood flow and oxygen delivery is clear, the lack of optimized imaging modalities to study placental structure has impeded our understanding of its vascular function. MRI is increasingly being applied in this field, but gaps in knowledge remain and further MRI methodological developments are needed. In particular, the ability to distinguish maternal from fetal placental perfusion, and the understanding of how individual placental lobules are functioning is lacking. The potential clinical benefits of developing noninvasive tools for the in vivo assessment of blood flow and oxygenation, two key determinants of placental function, are tremendous. Here we summarize a number of structural and functional MRI techniques that have been developed and applied in animal models and studies of human pregnancy over the past decade. We briefly discuss potential applications and limitations for these approaches. Their combination provides a novel source of contrast to allow analysis of placental structure and function at the level of the lobule. We outline physiological mechanisms of placental T2 and T2* decay and devise a model of how tissue composition affects the observed relaxation properties. We apply this modelling to longitudinal MRI data obtained from a pre-clinical pregnant nonhuman primate (NHP) model to provide initial proof-of-concept data for this methodology which quantifies oxygen transfer and placental structure across and between lobules. This method has the potential to improve our understanding and clinical management of placental insufficiency once validation in a larger NHP cohort is complete.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Melbourne
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Matthias C Schabel
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, USA
- Utah Center for Advanced Imaging Research, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Anna L David
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Victoria H J Roberts
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), OHSU, Portland, OR, USA
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Doctory N, Romano A, Navon I, Barbash-Hazan S, Bardin R, Hadar E. Placental location and obstetrical-neonatal outcomes: A retrospective study. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2023; 160:641-645. [PMID: 35749141 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the potential association of lateral placentation with pregnancy outcome. METHODS The database of a tertiary medical center was searched for women who gave birth to a singleton neonate from 2012 to 2020 for whom placental location was documented during antepartum sonographic examination. Clinical data were compared between patients with a central (anterior/posterior/fundal) or lateral placenta using standard statistics. The primary outcome measure was neonatal birthweight, and secondary outcome measures were pregnancy complications and mode of delivery. RESULTS The cohort included 12 306 women: 11 608 (94%) with a central placenta and 698 (5.6%) with a lateral placenta. The lateral placenta group had higher rates (P < 0.05) of prior and current cesarean delivery, assisted delivery, and preterm birth. On multivariate regression analyses, placental location (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-1.66) and maternal age (aOR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03) were associated with risk of preterm birth. Lateral placenta (aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.02-1.47), maternal age (aOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.06-1.08), parity (aOR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.28-0.35), and prior cesarean delivery (aOR, 12.00; 95% CI, 10.60-13.60) were associated with risk of current cesarean delivery. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that lateral placentation may pose a risk of preterm birth and cesarean delivery compared with central placentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neta Doctory
- Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Asaf Romano
- Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Inbal Navon
- Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shiri Barbash-Hazan
- Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ron Bardin
- Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Eran Hadar
- Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Gyselaers W, Lees C. Maternal Low Volume Circulation Relates to Normotensive and Preeclamptic Fetal Growth Restriction. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:902634. [PMID: 35755049 PMCID: PMC9218216 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.902634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This narrative review summarizes current evidence on the association between maternal low volume circulation and poor fetal growth. Though much work has been devoted to the study of cardiac output and peripheral vascular resistance, a low intravascular volume may explain why high vascular resistance causes hypertension in women with preeclampsia (PE) that is associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and, at the same time, presents with normotension in FGR itself. Normotensive women with small for gestational age babies show normal gestational blood volume expansion superimposed upon a constitutionally low intravascular volume. Early onset preeclampsia (EPE; occurring before 32 weeks) is commonly associated with FGR, and poor plasma volume expandability may already be present before conception, thus preceding gestational volume expansion. Experimentally induced low plasma volume in rodents predisposes to poor fetal growth and interventions that enhance plasma volume expansion in FGR have shown beneficial effects on intrauterine fetal condition, prolongation of gestation and birth weight. This review makes the case for elevating the maternal intravascular volume with physical exercise with or without Nitric Oxide Donors in FGR and EPE, and evaluating its role as a potential target for prevention and/or management of these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfried Gyselaers
- Department of Obstetrics, Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg, Genk, Belgium.,Department of Physiology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Christoph Lees
- Centre for Fetal Care, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Institute for Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Centre for Fetal Care, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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6
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Lo G, Jacques A, Dickinson JE. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of normal human placentae. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol 2022; 67:232-241. [PMID: 35665447 DOI: 10.1111/1754-9485.13440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The MRI appearances of the human placenta in the absence of maternal or fetal pathology have not been extensively studied, with only a few studies reporting findings in the uncomplicated pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to review the placental MRI appearances in low-risk pregnancies in a prospective study. METHODS A prospective observational study of placental MRI in low-risk pregnancies was initially planned, however recruitment was terminated early due to the COVID19 pandemic. The protocol was subsequently modified to compare the placental appearances in the enrolled cohort with pregnancies having had MRI for non-placental pathologies. The data from the two groups were then pooled to assess the range of normal placental appearances. RESULTS Eighty-three pregnancies were prospectively assessed with MRI at a median gestation of 29 weeks (range 14-39) from a mixed group of prospective cases (n = 28) and retrospectively recruited obstetric MRI (n = 55). Placental thickness in the third trimester ranged from 18 to 35 mm. T2 heterogeneity was seen in 75% (25/33) at second trimester and by the third trimester 50% (25/50) were moderately or markedly heterogenous. T2 dark bands (>6 mm) were seen in 9% (3/33) and 20% (10/50) of second and third trimester pregnancies, respectively. Undetectable myometrium or loss of the subplacental myometrial plane was present in 15% (5/33) of second and 38% (19/50) of third trimester placentae. CONCLUSION This qualitative study of normal placental MRI appearances expands the current knowledge base by confirming they vary, evolve with gestation, and can overlap with signs of placenta accreta spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glen Lo
- Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.,The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Angela Jacques
- Department of Research, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,Institute for Health Research, The University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jan E Dickinson
- King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.,The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
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Blood Flow and Respiratory Gas Exchange in the Human Placenta at Term: A Data Update. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1395:379-384. [PMID: 36527666 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-14190-4_62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Reliable measurements using modern techniques and consensus in experimental design have enabled the assessment of novel data sets for normal maternal and foetal respiratory physiology at term. These data sets include (a) principal factors affecting placental gas transfer, e.g., maternal blood flow through the intervillous space (IVS) (500 mL/min) and foeto-placental blood flow (480 mL/min), and (b) O2, CO2 and pH levels in the materno-placental and foeto-placental circulation. According to these data, the foetus is adapted to hypoxaemic hypoxia. Despite flat oxygen partial pressure (pO2) gradients between the blood of the IVS and the umbilical arteries of the foetus, adequate O2 delivery to the foetus is maintained by the higher O2 affinity of the foetal blood, high foetal haemoglobin (HbF) concentrations, the Bohr effect, the double-Bohr effect, and high foeto-placental (=umbilical) blood flow. Again, despite flat gradients, adequate CO2 removal from the foetus is maintained by a high diffusion capacity, high foeto-placental blood flow, the Haldane effect, and the double-Haldane effect. Placental respiratory gas exchange is perfusion-limited, rather than diffusion-limited, i.e., O2 uptake depends on O2 delivery.
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Liu XL, Feng J, Huang CT, Mei YJ, Xu YK. Use of intravoxel incoherent motion MRI to assess placental perfusion in normal and Fetal Growth Restricted pregnancies on their third trimester. Placenta 2021; 118:10-15. [PMID: 34995915 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Intravoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) MRI is a non-invasive, in vivo techniques which can assess placental perfusion quantitatively, and be useful for evaluating placental microcirculation. Our primary aim was to investigate whether fetal growth restriction (FGR) pregnancies have different placental perfusion and diffusion compared with normal pregnancies using IVIM. A secondary aim was to investigate correlations between placental IVIM parameters and gestational age in normal pregnancy. METHODS This study population included 17 FGR pregnancies and 36 normal pregnancies between 28 + 3 to 38 + 0 weeks. All women underwent a MRI examination including an IVIM sequence with 9 b-values on a 3.0 T MRI system. The standard diffusion coefficeint (D), pseudodiffusion (D*) and perfusion fraction (f) were calculated. RESULTS Placental f was significantly lower in the FGR group than that in the normal group (33.96 ± 2.62(%) vs 38.48 ± 5.31(%), p = 0.002). Placental D and D* in two groups showed no statistical significance (P > 0.05). Placental f moderately increased with increasing gestational age in normal pregnancies (r = 0.411, p = 0.013), and there existed a negative correlation between D values and gestational age (r = -0.390, p = 0.019). DISCUSSION The f values are able to distinguish FGR from normal pregnancies. It can be uses as a feasible index to evaluate placenta perfusion. Gestational age-associated changes in placental IVIM parameters likely reveal trajectories of microvascular perfusion fraction and diffusion characteristics in the normal developing placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Long Liu
- Department of Medical Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Jie Feng
- Department of Medical Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Chan-Tao Huang
- Department of Medical Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Ying-Jie Mei
- Philips Healthcare, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510055, China
| | - Yi-Kai Xu
- Department of Medical Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
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Stout JN, Bedoya MA, Grant PE, Estroff JA. Fetal Neuroimaging Updates. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am 2021; 29:557-581. [PMID: 34717845 PMCID: PMC8562558 DOI: 10.1016/j.mric.2021.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
MR imaging is used in conjunction with ultrasound screening for fetal brain abnormalities because it offers better contrast, higher resolution, and has multiplanar capabilities that increase the accuracy and confidence of diagnosis. Fetal motion still severely limits the MR imaging sequences that can be acquired. We outline the current acquisition strategies for fetal brain MR imaging and discuss the near term advances that will improve its reliability. Prospective and retrospective motion correction aim to make the complement of MR neuroimaging modalities available for fetal diagnosis, improve the performance of existing modalities, and open new horizons to understanding in utero brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey N Stout
- Fetal and Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - M Alejandra Bedoya
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - P Ellen Grant
- Fetal and Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Judy A Estroff
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Maternal Fetal Care Center, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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10
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Srinivasan V, Melbourne A, Oyston C, James JL, Clark AR. Multiscale and multimodal imaging of utero-placental anatomy and function in pregnancy. Placenta 2021; 112:111-122. [PMID: 34329969 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.07.290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Placental structures at the nano-, micro-, and macro scale each play important roles in contributing to its function. As such, quantifying the dynamic way in which placental structure evolves during pregnancy is critical to both clinical diagnosis of pregnancy disorders, and mechanistic understanding of their pathophysiology. Imaging the placenta, both exvivo and invivo, can provide a wealth of structural and/or functional information. This review outlines how imaging across modalities and spatial scales can ultimately come together to improve our understanding of normal and pathological pregnancies. We discuss how imaging technologies are evolving to provide new insights into placental physiology across disciplines, and how advanced computational algorithms can be used alongside state-of-the-art imaging to obtain a holistic view of placental structure and its associated functions to improve our understanding of placental function in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew Melbourne
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, Kings College London, UK
| | - Charlotte Oyston
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Joanna L James
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Alys R Clark
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, New Zealand
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11
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Boehm-Sturm P, Mueller S, Freitag N, Borowski S, Foddis M, Koch SP, Temme S, Flögel U, Blois SM. Phenotyping placental oxygenation in Lgals1 deficient mice using 19F MRI. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2126. [PMID: 33483548 PMCID: PMC7822814 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80408-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Placental hypoperfusion and hypoxia are key drivers in complications during fetal development such as fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia. In order to study the mechanisms of disease in mouse models, the development of quantitative biomarkers of placental hypoxia is a prerequisite. The goal of this exploratory study was to establish a technique to noninvasively characterize placental partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) in vivo in the Lgals1 (lectin, galactoside-binding, soluble, 1) deficient mouse model of preeclampsia using fluorine magnetic resonance imaging. We hypothesized a decrease in placental oxygenation in knockout mice. Wildtype and knockout animals received fluorescently labeled perfluoro-5-crown-15-ether nanoemulsion i.v. on day E14-15 during pregnancy. Placental PO2 was assessed via calibrated 19F MRI saturation recovery T1 mapping. A gas challenge with varying levels of oxygen in breathing air (30%, 60% and 100% O2) was used to validate that changes in oxygenation can be detected in freely breathing, anesthetized animals. At the end of the experiment, fluorophore-coupled lectin was injected i.v. to label the vasculature for histology. Differences in PO2 between breathing conditions and genotype were statistically analyzed with linear mixed-effects modeling. As expected, a significant increase in PO2 with increasing oxygen in breathing air was found. PO2 in Lgals1 knockout animals was decreased but this effect was only present at 30% oxygen in breathing air, not at 60% and 100%. Histological examinations showed crossing of the perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion to the fetal blood pool but the dominating contribution of 19F MR signal is estimated at > 70% from maternal plasma based on volume fraction measurements of previous studies. These results show for the first time that 19F MRI can characterize oxygenation in mouse models of placental malfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Boehm-Sturm
- Department of Experimental Neurology and Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence and Charité Core Facility 7T Experimental MRIs, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Susanne Mueller
- Department of Experimental Neurology and Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence and Charité Core Facility 7T Experimental MRIs, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nancy Freitag
- Department for Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Division of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sophia Borowski
- Department for Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marco Foddis
- Department of Experimental Neurology and Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence and Charité Core Facility 7T Experimental MRIs, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan P Koch
- Department of Experimental Neurology and Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence and Charité Core Facility 7T Experimental MRIs, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Temme
- Department of Molecular Cardiology, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ulrich Flögel
- Department of Molecular Cardiology, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sandra M Blois
- Department for Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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12
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Harteveld AA, Hutter J, Franklin SL, Jackson LH, Rutherford M, Hajnal JV, van Osch MJP, Bos C, De Vita E. Systematic evaluation of velocity-selective arterial spin labeling settings for placental perfusion measurement. Magn Reson Med 2020; 84:1828-1843. [PMID: 32141655 PMCID: PMC7384055 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Placental function is key for successful human pregnancies. Perfusion may be a sensitive marker for the in vivo assessment of placental function. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI enables noninvasive measurement of tissue perfusion and it was recently suggested that ASL with velocity‐selective (VS) labeling could be advantageous in the placenta. We systematically evaluated essential VS‐ASL sequence parameters to determine optimal settings for efficient placental perfusion measurements. Methods Eleven pregnant women were scanned at 3T using VS‐ASL with 2D multislice echo planar imaging (EPI)‐readout. One reference VS‐ASL scan was acquired in all subjects; within subgroups the following parameters were systematically varied: cutoff velocity, velocity encoding direction, and inflow time. Visual evaluation and region of interest analyses were performed to compare perfusion signal differences between acquisitions. Results In all subjects, a perfusion pattern with clear hyperintense focal regions was observed. Perfusion signal decreased with inflow time and cutoff velocity. Subject‐specific dependence on velocity encoding direction was observed. High temporal signal‐to‐noise ratios with high contrast on the perfusion images between the hyperintense regions and placental tissue were seen at ~1.6 cm/s cutoff velocity and ~1000 ms inflow time. Evaluation of measurements at multiple inflow times revealed differences in blood flow dynamics between placental regions. Conclusion Placental perfusion measurements are feasible at 3T using VS‐ASL with 2D multislice EPI‐readout. A clear dependence of perfusion signal on VS labeling parameters and inflow time was demonstrated. Whereas multiple parameter combinations may advance the interpretation of placental circulation dynamics, this study provides a basis to select an effective set of parameters for the observation of placenta perfusion natural history and its potential pathological changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita A Harteveld
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jana Hutter
- Biomedical Engineering, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Suzanne L Franklin
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,C.J. Gorter Center for high field MRI, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Laurence H Jackson
- Biomedical Engineering, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mary Rutherford
- Biomedical Engineering, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph V Hajnal
- Biomedical Engineering, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthias J P van Osch
- C.J. Gorter Center for high field MRI, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Clemens Bos
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Enrico De Vita
- Biomedical Engineering, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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13
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Bozkaya VÖ, Oskovi-Kaplan ZA, Engin-Ustun Y. Atrial septal aneurysm in pregnancy: echocardiography and obstetric outcomes. J Perinat Med 2020; 48:/j/jpme.ahead-of-print/jpm-2019-0351/jpm-2019-0351.xml. [PMID: 32134736 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2019-0351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) is an uncommon cardiac anomaly that increases maternal morbidity during pregnancy. ASA is related to atrial arrhythmia thromboembolism and it may accompany congenital anomalies such as an atrial septal defect (ASD) or patent foramen ovale (PFO). There are no studies examining pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with ASA. We aimed to investigate the cardiologic parameters and obstetric outcomes of pregnant women diagnosed with ASA. Methods This prospective cohort study analyzed 45 pregnant women diagnosed with ASA, who continued their follow-ups in an obstetric tertiary care center. Results A total of 45 pregnant women were recruited; seven pregnancies ended before the 20th gestational week (six spontaneous abortion, one fetal anomaly), 38 women gave birth. In total, there were 32 term births (≥37 weeks), six preterm births (<37 weeks), two extremely preterm births <28 weeks). Among 38 babies delivered, several obstetrical complications such as oligohydramnios, spontaneous preterm labor, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) developed in 16 patients, while 22 women ended with term pregnancy without any complications. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) developed in one patient. Conclusion ASA may have an increased risk for cardiac complications during pregnancy and may also be associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. Increased attention to these entities with more studies is needed in order to determine a potential risk for pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veciha Özlem Bozkaya
- Department of Cardiology, Keçiören Training and Research Hospital, Kavacık Subayevleri mah. Fethibey sok. No:49/8 06135 Kecioren, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Yaprak Engin-Ustun
- Obstetry and Gynecology, Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Women's Health Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
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14
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Görkem SB, Coşkun A, Eşlik M, Kütük MS, Öztürk A. Diffusion-weighted imaging of placenta in intrauterine growth restriction with worsening Doppler US findings. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 25:280-284. [PMID: 31120426 DOI: 10.5152/dir.2019.18358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We aimed to compare the placental diffusion difference between intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) patients with worsening Doppler ultrasonography (US) findings and control group with normal Doppler US findings by using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). METHODS We performed a prospective study to compare the placental diffusion difference in 63 patients (gestational week, 28-34 weeks), including 50 IUGR patients (mean gestational week, 30 weeks 3 days ±16.2 days) with worsening Doppler US findings and 13 patients with normal Doppler US findings (mean gestational week, 29 weeks 4 days ±12.3 days) by using DWI (b value, 0-1000 s/mm2). We classified IUGR patients into three groups according to the reference values of the umbilical artery pulsatility index (PI) chart. Placenta apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) calculations were performed by freehand drawn regions-of-interest (ROIs) (min, 8.04 cm2; max, 200 cm2). RESULTS Placental ADC values in IUGR patients (mean, 1.624±0.181 ×10-³ mm²/s; range, 1.35-1.96 ×10-3 mm2/s) were significantly reduced compared with the control group (mean, 1.827±0.191 ×10-³ mm²/s; range, 1.35-2.84 ×10-3 mm2/s) (P = 0.001). For adjusted ROI area calculation, ADC values were significantly lower in groups 3, 2 and 1, respectively, compared with the control group (P < 0.05); and there was no significant difference between groups 1 and 2 (P > 0.05). Preeclampsia significantly reduced the placental diffusion compared with patients without preeclampsia (P = 0.003). Gestational aging did not significantly affect ADC values in control patients (r=0.08, P = 0.561). The sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values of ADC to detect IUGR were 72%, 84.6%, 44%, and 94.7% with a cutoff value of 1.727 ×10-3 mm2/s, respectively. CONCLUSION The diagnostic estimation of placental ADC values to predict the severity of IUGR is comparable to that of umbilical artery PI. Considering that at the very early onset of IUGR, placental diffusion diminishes, ADC as a marker for IUGR in lieu of umbilical artery PI has the potential to determine the threshold for decreased placental diffusion. Therefore, DWI should be added to routine fetal MRI to show diffusion changes in placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Süreyya Burcu Görkem
- Division of Pediatric Radiology, Department of Radiology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Abdulhakim Coşkun
- Division of Pediatric Radiology, Department of Radiology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Murside Eşlik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Serdar Kütük
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Öztürk
- Department of Biostatistics, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey
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15
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Afacan O, Estroff JA, Yang E, Barnewolt CE, Connolly SA, Parad RB, Mulkern RV, Warfield SK, Gholipour A. Fetal Echoplanar Imaging: Promises and Challenges. Top Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 28:245-254. [PMID: 31592991 PMCID: PMC6788763 DOI: 10.1097/rmr.0000000000000219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been gaining increasing interest in both clinical radiology and research. Echoplanar imaging (EPI) offers a unique potential, as it can be used to acquire images very fast. It can be used to freeze motion, or to get multiple images with various contrast mechanisms that allow studying the microstructure and function of the fetal brain and body organs. In this article, we discuss the current clinical and research applications of fetal EPI. This includes T2*-weighted imaging to better identify blood products and vessels, using diffusion-weighted MRI to investigate connections of the developing brain and using functional MRI (fMRI) to identify the functional networks of the developing brain. EPI can also be used as an alternative structural sequence when banding or standing wave artifacts adversely affect the mainstream sequences used routinely in structural fetal MRI. We also discuss the challenges with EPI acquisitions, and potential solutions. As EPI acquisitions are inherently sensitive to susceptibility artifacts, geometric distortions limit the use of high-resolution EPI acquisitions. Also, interslice motion and transmit and receive field inhomogeneities may create significant artifacts in fetal EPI. We conclude by discussing promising research directions to overcome these challenges to improve the use of EPI in clinical and research applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onur Afacan
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Judy A. Estroff
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Advanced Fetal Care Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Edward Yang
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Advanced Fetal Care Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Carol E. Barnewolt
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Advanced Fetal Care Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Susan A. Connolly
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Advanced Fetal Care Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Richard B. Parad
- Advanced Fetal Care Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robert V. Mulkern
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Simon K. Warfield
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ali Gholipour
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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16
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Hutter J, Harteveld AA, Jackson LH, Franklin S, Bos C, van Osch MJP, O'Muircheartaigh J, Ho A, Chappell L, Hajnal JV, Rutherford M, De Vita E. Perfusion and apparent oxygenation in the human placenta (PERFOX). Magn Reson Med 2019; 83:549-560. [PMID: 31433077 PMCID: PMC6825519 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To study placental function-both perfusion and an oxygenation surrogate ( T 2 * )-simultaneously and quantitatively in-vivo. METHODS Fifteen pregnant women were scanned on a 3T MR scanner. For perfusion measurements, a velocity selective arterial spin labeling preparation module was placed before a multi-echo gradient echo EPI readout to integrate T 2 * and perfusion measurements in 1 joint perfusion-oxygenation (PERFOX) acquisition. Joint motion correction and quantification were performed to evaluate changes in T 2 * and perfusion over GA. RESULTS The optimized integrated PERFOX protocol and post-processing allowed successful visualization and quantification of perfusion and T 2 * in all subjects. Areas of high T 2 * and high perfusion appear to correspond to placental sub-units and show a systematic offset in location along the maternal-fetal axis. The areas of highest perfusion are consistently closer to the maternal basal plate and the areas of highest T 2 * closer to the fetal chorionic plate. Quantitative results show a strong negative correlation of gestational age with T 2 * and weak negative correlation with perfusion. CONCLUSIONS A strength of the joint sequence is that it provides truly simultaneous and co-registered estimates of local T 2 * and perfusion, however, to achieve this, the time per slice is prolonged compared to a perfusion only scan which can potentially limit coverage. The achieved interlocking can be particularly useful when quantifying transient physiological effects such as uterine contractions. PERFOX opens a new avenue to elucidate the relationship between maternal supply and oxygen uptake, both of which are central to placental function and dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Hutter
- Centre for the Developing BrainKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- School of Medical EngineeringKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Anita A. Harteveld
- Department of RadiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Laurence H. Jackson
- Centre for the Developing BrainKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- School of Medical EngineeringKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Suzanne Franklin
- C.J. Gorter Center for High Field MRIDepartment of RadiologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Clemens Bos
- Department of RadiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Matthias J. P. van Osch
- C.J. Gorter Center for High Field MRIDepartment of RadiologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Jonathan O'Muircheartaigh
- Centre for the Developing BrainKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- School of Medical EngineeringKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Alison Ho
- Academic Women's Health DepartmentKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Lucy Chappell
- Academic Women's Health DepartmentKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Joseph V. Hajnal
- Centre for the Developing BrainKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- School of Medical EngineeringKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Mary Rutherford
- Centre for the Developing BrainKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- School of Medical EngineeringKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Enrico De Vita
- School of Medical EngineeringKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
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17
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Ludwig KD, Fain SB, Nguyen SM, Golos TG, Reeder SB, Bird IM, Shah DM, Wieben OE, Johnson KM. Perfusion of the placenta assessed using arterial spin labeling and ferumoxytol dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in the rhesus macaque. Magn Reson Med 2019; 81:1964-1978. [PMID: 30357902 PMCID: PMC6715150 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the correspondence between arterial spin labeling (ASL) flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) and ferumoxytol DCE MRI for the assessment of placental intervillous perfusion. METHODS Ten pregnant macaques in late second trimester were imaged at 3 T using a 2D ASL FAIR, with and without outer-volume saturation pulses used to control the bolus width, and a 3D ferumoxytol DCE-MRI acquisition. The ASL tagged/control pairs were averaged, subtracted, and normalized to create perfusion ratio maps. Contrast arrival time and uptake slope were estimated by fitting the DCE data to a sigmoid function. Macaques (N = 4) received interleukin-1β to induce inflammation and disrupt perfusion. RESULTS The FAIR tag modification with outer-volume saturation reduced the median ASL ratio percentage compared with conventional FAIR (0.64% ± 1.42% versus 0.71% ± 2.00%; P < .05). Extended ferumoxytol arrival times (34 ± 25 seconds) were observed across the placenta. No significant DCE signal change was measured in fetal tissue ( - 0.6% ± 3.0%; P = .52) or amniotic fluid (1.9% ± 8.8%; P = .59). High ASL ratio was significantly correlated with early arrival time and high uptake slope (P < .05), but ASL signal was not above noise in late-DCE-enhancing regions. No significant differences were observed in perfusion measurements between the interleukin-1β and controls (P > .05). CONCLUSION The ASL-FAIR and ferumoxytol DCE-MRI methods are feasible to detect early blood delivery to the macaque placenta. Outer volume saturation reduced the high macrovascular ASL signal. Interleukin-1β exposure did not alter placental intervillous perfusion. An endogenous-labeling perfusion technique is limited due to extended transit times for flow within the placenta beyond the immediate vicinity of the maternal spiral arteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai D. Ludwig
- Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53705
| | - Sean B. Fain
- Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53705
- Radiology, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53792
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, 1415 Engineering Dr, Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53706
| | - Sydney M. Nguyen
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, 1220 Capitol Court, Madison, WI, USA 53715
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, USA 53792
| | - Thaddeus G. Golos
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, 1220 Capitol Court, Madison, WI, USA 53715
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, USA 53792
- Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Dr, Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53706
| | - Scott B. Reeder
- Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53705
- Radiology, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53792
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, 1415 Engineering Dr, Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53706
- Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53792
- Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53792
| | - Ian M. Bird
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, USA 53792
| | - Dinesh M. Shah
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, USA 53792
| | - Oliver E. Wieben
- Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53705
- Radiology, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53792
| | - Kevin M. Johnson
- Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53705
- Radiology, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53792
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18
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Non-invasive assessment of placental perfusion in vivo using arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI: A preclinical study in rats. Placenta 2019; 77:39-45. [PMID: 30827354 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Non-invasive assessment of placental perfusion is of great interest to characterize placental function in clinical practice. This article proposes a strictly non-invasive MRI technique using ASL to quantify placental blood flow in vivo. The aim of this study was to develop a fMRI tool to quantify placental blood flow (PBF) in rat, by using arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI at 4.7 T. MATERIALS AND METHODS MRI was performed with a dedicated magnet for small animals, in pregnant rats on day 20 of the 22-day gestation period. A Look-Locker flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery gradient echo sequence was developed as ASL technique (TE: 1.55 ms; TR: 3.5 ms, TI: 56 ms, deltaTI: 56 ms, FA: 20°, Matrix: 128 × 128, 8 segments, 4 Nex). Labeling was performed with global and slice-selective inversions, and T1 map was obtained for each mode of inversion. PBF was then derived from a compartmental model of the variation of T1 between global and slice-selective inversions. RESULTS The full protocol was completed and ASL image post-processing was successful in 18 rats. Forty-seven placentas were analyzed, with a mean PBF of 147 ± 70 ml/min/100 g of placenta, consistent with published values of placental perfusion using invasive techniques. CONCLUSION ASL MRI is feasible for the quantification of PBF in rats at 4.7 T. This technique, which requires no administration of contrast media, could have implications for non-invasive longitudinal and in vivo animal studies and may be useful for the management of human pregnancies.
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19
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Placental physiology monitored by hyperpolarized dynamic 13C magnetic resonance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E2429-E2436. [PMID: 29444856 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1715175115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Placental functions, including transport and metabolism, play essential roles in pregnancy. This study assesses such processes in vivo, from a hyperpolarized MRI perspective. Hyperpolarized urea, bicarbonate, and pyruvate were administered to near-term pregnant rats, and all metabolites displayed distinctive behaviors. Little evidence of placental barrier crossing was observed for bicarbonate, at least within the timescales allowed by 13C relaxation. By contrast, urea was observed to cross the placental barrier, with signatures visible from certain fetal organs including the liver. This was further evidenced by the slower decay times observed for urea in placentas vis-à-vis other maternal compartments and validated by mass spectrometric analyses. A clear placental localization, as well as concurrent generation of hyperpolarized lactate, could also be detected for [1-13C]pyruvate. These metabolites also exhibited longer lifetimes in the placentas than in maternal arteries, consistent with a metabolic activity occurring past the trophoblastic interface. When extended to a model involving the administration of a preeclampsia-causing chemical, hyperpolarized MR revealed changes in urea's transport, as well as decreases in placental glycolysis vs. the naïve animals. These distinct behaviors highlight the potential of hyperpolarized MR for the early, minimally invasive detection of aberrant placental metabolism.
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20
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Zun Z, Limperopoulos C. Placental perfusion imaging using velocity-selective arterial spin labeling. Magn Reson Med 2018; 80:1036-1047. [PMID: 29436733 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 12/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zungho Zun
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.,Division of Fetal and Transitional Medicine, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.,Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC.,Department of Radiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Catherine Limperopoulos
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.,Division of Fetal and Transitional Medicine, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.,Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC.,Department of Radiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC
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21
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Non-Invasive Placental Perfusion Imaging in Pregnancies Complicated by Fetal Heart Disease Using Velocity-Selective Arterial Spin Labeled MRI. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16126. [PMID: 29170468 PMCID: PMC5700998 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16461-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta is a vital organ for fetal growth and development during pregnancy. Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns. Despite the parallel development of the placenta and fetal heart early in pregnancy, very few studies suggested an association between placental dysfunction and fetal CHD. In this study, we report placental perfusion of healthy pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by fetal CHD measured using advanced fetal MRI techniques. We studied forty-eight pregnant women (31 healthy volunteers and 17 with fetal CHD) that underwent fetal MRI during their second or third trimester of pregnancy. Placental perfusion imaging was performed using velocity-selective arterial spin labeling (VSASL) and 3D image acquisition with whole-placenta coverage. In pregnancies with fetal CHD, global placental perfusion significantly decreased and regional variation of placental perfusion significantly increased with advancing gestational age; however, no such correlation was found in healthy pregnancies. Also, global placental perfusion was significantly higher in fetal CHD versus controls, in the lateral side-lying patient position versus supine, and in the posterior placental position versus anterior placental position. This study reports for the first time non-invasive whole-placenta perfusion imaging in utero. These data suggest that placental VSASL may serve as a potential biomarker of placental dysfunction in fetuses diagnosed with CHD.
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22
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Fadl S, Moshiri M, Fligner CL, Katz DS, Dighe M. Placental Imaging: Normal Appearance with Review of Pathologic Findings. Radiographics 2017; 37:979-998. [PMID: 28493802 DOI: 10.1148/rg.2017160155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The placenta plays a crucial role throughout pregnancy, and its importance may be overlooked during routine antenatal imaging evaluation. Detailed systematic assessment of the placenta at ultrasonography (US), the standard imaging examination during pregnancy, is important. Familiarity with the normal and abnormal imaging appearance of the placenta along with the multimodality and methodical approach for evaluation of its related abnormalities is necessary, so that radiologists can alert clinicians regarding appropriate prompt management decisions. This will potentially decrease fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. This article reviews early placental formation and the expected imaging appearance of the placenta during pregnancy, as well as variations in its morphology. It also discusses various placental diseases and their potential clinical consequences. Placental pathologic conditions include abnormalities of placental size, cord insertion, placental and cord location, and placental adherence. Other conditions such as bleeding in and around the placenta, as well as trophoblastic and nontrophoblastic tumors of the placenta, are also discussed. US with Doppler imaging is the initial imaging modality of choice for placental evaluation. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is reserved for equivocal cases or when additional information is needed. Computed tomography (CT) has a limited role in evaluation of placental abnormalities because of the ionizing radiation exposure and the relatively limited assessment of the placenta; however, CT can provide important information in specific circumstances, particularly evaluation of trauma and staging of choriocarcinoma. This article also addresses recent techniques and updates in placental imaging, including elastography, diffusion-weighted MR imaging, and blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) MR imaging. These advanced imaging techniques may provide additional information in evaluation of abnormal placental adherence and new insights into placental pathophysiology in selected patients. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaimaa Fadl
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.F., M.M., M.D.) and Pathology (C.L.F.), University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195; and Department of Radiology, Winthrop Radiology Associates, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.)
| | - Mariam Moshiri
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.F., M.M., M.D.) and Pathology (C.L.F.), University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195; and Department of Radiology, Winthrop Radiology Associates, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.)
| | - Corinne L Fligner
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.F., M.M., M.D.) and Pathology (C.L.F.), University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195; and Department of Radiology, Winthrop Radiology Associates, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.)
| | - Douglas S Katz
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.F., M.M., M.D.) and Pathology (C.L.F.), University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195; and Department of Radiology, Winthrop Radiology Associates, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.)
| | - Manjiri Dighe
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.F., M.M., M.D.) and Pathology (C.L.F.), University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195; and Department of Radiology, Winthrop Radiology Associates, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.)
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23
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Siauve N, Hayot PH, Deloison B, Chalouhi GE, Alison M, Balvay D, Bussières L, Clément O, Salomon LJ. Assessment of human placental perfusion by intravoxel incoherent motion MR imaging. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2017; 32:293-300. [PMID: 28974131 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2017.1378334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To provide functional information on the human placenta, including perfusion, and diffusion, with no contrast agent injection, and to study correlations between intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) placental parameters and fetal growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS MRI was performed in women undergoing legal termination of pregnancy at 17-34 weeks, including a 4-b-value and 11-b-value DW sequences. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), the restricted diffusion coefficient (D), the pseudoperfusion coefficient (D*), and the perfusion fraction (f) were calculated. Their relationships with gestational age, Z-scores for fetal and placental weight were evaluated by means of regression analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the ability of IVIM parameters to predict/detect intrauterine growth retardation (SGA). RESULTS Fifty-five pregnant women, including nine cases of SGA (16%), were included in the study. The ADC (n = 55) showed a quadratic correlation with gestational age (p < .001) and a linear correlation with the fetal weight Z-score (p = .02). Mean ADC values were significantly different between normally growing and SGA fetuses (2.37 ± 0.25 versus 2.29 ± 0.33 10-3.mm2.s-1, p=.048). The perfusion fraction f (n = 23) showed a quadratic correlation with gestational age (p = .017) and a linear correlation with the fetal weight Z - score (p = .008). Mean f values differed significantly between normally growing and SGA fetuses (42.55 ± 9.30% versus 27.94 ± 8.76%, p = .002). The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve for f to predict SGA was produced (area under the ROC curve = 0.9). CONCLUSIONS The observed association between f and fetal weight suggests that fMRI could be suitable for studying placental insufficiency and for identifying risk of SGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Siauve
- a INSERM, U970 , Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, Sorbonne Paris Cite , Paris , France.,b EA Fetus & Lumiere Platform , Université Paris Descartes , Paris , France.,c Assistance Publique: Hôpitaux de Paris , Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou , Paris , France
| | - Pierre Humbert Hayot
- a INSERM, U970 , Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, Sorbonne Paris Cite , Paris , France.,b EA Fetus & Lumiere Platform , Université Paris Descartes , Paris , France.,d Assistance Publique: Hôpitaux de Paris , Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades , Paris , France
| | - Benjamin Deloison
- a INSERM, U970 , Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, Sorbonne Paris Cite , Paris , France.,b EA Fetus & Lumiere Platform , Université Paris Descartes , Paris , France.,d Assistance Publique: Hôpitaux de Paris , Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades , Paris , France
| | - Gihad E Chalouhi
- a INSERM, U970 , Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, Sorbonne Paris Cite , Paris , France.,b EA Fetus & Lumiere Platform , Université Paris Descartes , Paris , France.,d Assistance Publique: Hôpitaux de Paris , Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades , Paris , France
| | - Marianne Alison
- a INSERM, U970 , Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, Sorbonne Paris Cite , Paris , France
| | - Daniel Balvay
- a INSERM, U970 , Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, Sorbonne Paris Cite , Paris , France.,e Plateforme d'Imagerie du Vivant , Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité , Paris , France
| | - Laurence Bussières
- a INSERM, U970 , Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, Sorbonne Paris Cite , Paris , France.,b EA Fetus & Lumiere Platform , Université Paris Descartes , Paris , France.,d Assistance Publique: Hôpitaux de Paris , Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades , Paris , France
| | - Olivier Clément
- a INSERM, U970 , Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, Sorbonne Paris Cite , Paris , France
| | - Laurent J Salomon
- a INSERM, U970 , Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, Sorbonne Paris Cite , Paris , France.,b EA Fetus & Lumiere Platform , Université Paris Descartes , Paris , France.,d Assistance Publique: Hôpitaux de Paris , Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades , Paris , France
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24
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James JL, Chamley LW, Clark AR. Feeding Your Baby In Utero: How the Uteroplacental Circulation Impacts Pregnancy. Physiology (Bethesda) 2017; 32:234-245. [DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00033.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Revised: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The utero-placental circulation links the maternal and fetal circulations during pregnancy, ensuring adequate gas and nutrient exchange, and consequently fetal growth. However, our understanding of this circulatory system remains incomplete. Here, we discuss how the utero-placental circulation is established, how it changes dynamically during pregnancy, and how this may impact on pregnancy success, highlighting how we may address knowledge gaps through advances in imaging and computational modeling approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna L. James
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; and
| | - Lawrence W. Chamley
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; and
| | - Alys R. Clark
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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25
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Mourier E, Tarrade A, Duan J, Richard C, Bertholdt C, Beaumont M, Morel O, Chavatte-Palmer P. Non-invasive evaluation of placental blood flow: lessons from animal models. Reproduction 2016; 153:R85-R96. [PMID: 27845691 DOI: 10.1530/rep-16-0428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
In human obstetrics, placental vascularisation impairment is frequent as well as linked to severe pathological events (preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction), and there is a need for reliable methods allowing non-invasive evaluation of placental blood flow. Uteroplacental vascularisation is complex, and animal models are essential for the technical development and safety assessment of these imaging tools for human clinical use; however, these techniques can also be applied in the veterinary context. This paper reviews how ultrasound-based imaging methods such as 2D and 3D Doppler can provide valuable insight for the exploration of placental blood flow both in humans and animals and how new approaches such as the use of ultrasound contrast agents or ultrafast Doppler may allow to discriminate between maternal (non-pulsatile) and foetal (pulsatile) blood flow in the placenta. Finally, functional magnetic resonance imaging could also be used to evaluate placental blood flow, as indicated by studies in animal models, but its safety in human pregnancy still requires to be confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Mourier
- UMR BDRINRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France .,PremUp FoundationParis, France
| | - A Tarrade
- UMR BDRINRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France.,PremUp FoundationParis, France
| | - J Duan
- IADIInserm U947, University of Lorraine, CHRU of Brabois, Nancy, France.,CHRU of Nancypole de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Nancy, France
| | - C Richard
- UMR BDRINRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France.,PremUp FoundationParis, France
| | - C Bertholdt
- IADIInserm U947, University of Lorraine, CHRU of Brabois, Nancy, France.,CHRU of Nancypole de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Nancy, France
| | - M Beaumont
- IADIInserm U947, University of Lorraine, CHRU of Brabois, Nancy, France.,CHRU of Nancypole de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Nancy, France
| | - O Morel
- IADIInserm U947, University of Lorraine, CHRU of Brabois, Nancy, France.,CHRU of Nancypole de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Nancy, France
| | - P Chavatte-Palmer
- UMR BDRINRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France.,PremUp FoundationParis, France
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26
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Xu H, van Deel ED, Johnson MR, Opić P, Herbert BR, Moltzer E, Sooranna SR, van Beusekom H, Zang WF, Duncker DJ, Roos-Hesselink JW. Pregnancy mitigates cardiac pathology in a mouse model of left ventricular pressure overload. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2016; 311:H807-14. [PMID: 27371681 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00056.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In Western countries heart disease is the leading cause of maternal death during pregnancy. The effect of pregnancy on the heart is difficult to study in patients with preexisting heart disease. Since experimental studies are scarce, we investigated the effect of pressure overload, produced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice, on the ability to conceive, pregnancy outcome, and maternal cardiac structure and function. Four weeks of TAC produced left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and dysfunction with marked interstitial fibrosis, decreased capillary density, and induced pathological cardiac gene expression. Pregnancy increased relative LV and right ventricular weight without affecting the deterioration of LV function following TAC. Surprisingly, the TAC-induced increase in relative heart and lung weight was mitigated by pregnancy, which was accompanied by a trend towards normalization of capillary density and natriuretic peptide type A expression. Additionally, the combination of pregnancy and TAC increased the cardiac phosphorylation of c-Jun, and STAT1, but reduced phosphoinositide 3-kinase phosphorylation. Finally, TAC did not significantly affect conception rate, pregnancy duration, uterus size, litter size, and pup weight. In conclusion, we found that, rather than exacerbating the changes associated with cardiac pressure overload, pregnancy actually attenuated pathological LV remodeling and mitigated pulmonary congestion, and pathological gene expression produced by TAC, suggesting a positive effect of pregnancy on the pressure-overloaded heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Xu
- Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China
| | - Elza D van Deel
- Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mark R Johnson
- Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, United Kingdom; and
| | - Petra Opić
- Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bronwen R Herbert
- Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, United Kingdom; and
| | - Els Moltzer
- Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Division of Pharmacology and Vascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Suren R Sooranna
- Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, United Kingdom; and
| | - Heleen van Beusekom
- Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wang-Fu Zang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China
| | - Dirk J Duncker
- Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jolien W Roos-Hesselink
- Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
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27
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Grigsby PL. Animal Models to Study Placental Development and Function throughout Normal and Dysfunctional Human Pregnancy. Semin Reprod Med 2016; 34:11-6. [PMID: 26752715 DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1570031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Abnormalities of placental development and function are known to underlie many pathologies of pregnancy, including spontaneous preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, and preeclampsia. A growing body of evidence also underscores the importance of placental dysfunction in the lifelong health of both mother and offspring. However, our knowledge regarding placental structure and function throughout pregnancy remains limited. Understanding the temporal growth and functionality of the human placenta throughout the entirety of gestation is important if we are to gain a better understanding of placental dysfunction. The utilization of new technologies and imaging techniques that could enable safe monitoring of placental growth and function in vivo has become a major focus area for the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development, as evident by the establishment of the "Human Placenta Project." Many of the objectives of the Human Placenta Project will necessitate preclinical studies and testing in appropriately designed animal models that can be readily translated to the clinical setting. This review will describe the advantages and limitations of relevant animals such as the guinea pig, sheep, and nonhuman primate models that have been used to study the role of the placenta in fetal growth disorders, preeclampsia, or other maternal diseases during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peta L Grigsby
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon
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28
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Ohgiya Y, Nobusawa H, Seino N, Miyagami O, Yagi N, Hiroto S, Munechika J, Hirose M, Takeyama N, Ohike N, Matsuoka R, Sekizawa A, Gokan T. MR Imaging of Fetuses to Evaluate Placental Insufficiency. Magn Reson Med Sci 2015; 15:212-9. [PMID: 26607809 PMCID: PMC5600058 DOI: 10.2463/mrms.mp.2015-0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate morphological and signal intensity (SI) changes of placental insufficiency on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to assess morphological changes and decreased flow voids (FVs) on T2-weighted rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) images for diagnosing placental insufficiency. Methods: Fifty singleton fetuses underwent MRI using a 1.5-T MR scanner. Placental thickness, area, volume, SI, amniotic fluid SI, and size of FVs between the uterus and the placenta were measured on MR images. Two radiologists reviewed T2-weighted RARE images for globular appearance of the placenta and FVs between the uterus and the placenta. Data were analyzed using t-tests, McNemar’s tests, and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) at 5% level of significance. Results: Twenty-five of the 50 pregnancies were categorized as having an insufficient placenta. Significant differences were observed between insufficient and normal placentas in mean placental thickness, area, volume, placenta to amniotic fluid SI ratio, and size of FVs (49.0 mm vs. 36.9 mm, 1.62 × 104 mm2 vs. 2.67 × 104 mm2, 5.13 × 105 mm3 vs. 6.56 × 105 mm3, 0.549 vs. 0.685, and 3.4 mm vs. 4.3 mm, respectively). The sensitivity and accuracy using globular appearance plus decreased FVs were greater than those using decreased FVs (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference among AUCs using globular appearance and decreased FVs, and globular appearance plus decreased FVs. Conclusions: Placental insufficiency was associated with placental thickness, area, volume, placenta to amniotic fluid SI ratio, and size of FVs. Evaluating FVs on T2-weighted RARE images can be useful for detecting placental insufficiency, particularly in placentas without globular appearance on MR images.
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29
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Siauve N, Chalouhi GE, Deloison B, Alison M, Clement O, Ville Y, Salomon LJ. Functional imaging of the human placenta with magnetic resonance. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015; 213:S103-14. [PMID: 26428488 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.06.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Revised: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal placentation is responsible for most failures in pregnancy; however, an understanding of placental functions remains largely concealed from noninvasive, in vivo investigations. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is safe in pregnancy for magnetic fields of up to 3 Tesla and is being used increasingly to improve the accuracy of prenatal imaging. Functional MRI (fMRI) of the placenta has not yet been validated in a clinical setting, and most data are derived from animal studies. FMRI could be used to further explore placental functions that are related to vascularization, oxygenation, and metabolism in human pregnancies by the use of various enhancement processes. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI is best able to quantify placental perfusion, permeability, and blood volume fractions. However, the transplacental passage of Gadolinium-based contrast agents represents a significant safety concern for this procedure in humans. There are alternative contrast agents that may be safer in pregnancy or that do not cross the placenta. Arterial spin labeling MRI relies on magnetically labeled water to quantify the blood flows within the placenta. A disadvantage of this technique is a poorer signal-to-noise ratio. Based on arterial spin labeling, placental perfusion in normal pregnancy is 176 ± 91 mL × min(-1) × 100 g(-1) and decreases in cases with intrauterine growth restriction. Blood oxygen level-dependent and oxygen-enhanced MRIs do not assess perfusion but measure the response of the placenta to changes in oxygen levels with the use of hemoglobin as an endogenous contrast agent. Diffusion-weighted imaging and intravoxel incoherent motion MRI do not require exogenous contrast agents, instead they use the movement of water molecules within tissues. The apparent diffusion coefficient and perfusion fraction are significantly lower in placentas of growth-restricted fetuses when compared with normal pregnancies. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy has the ability to extract information regarding metabolites from the placenta noninvasively and in vivo. There are marked differences in all 3 metabolites N-acetyl aspartate/choline levels, inositol/choline ratio between small, and adequately grown fetuses. Current research is focused on the ability of each fMRI technique to make a timely diagnosis of abnormal placentation that would allow for appropriate planning of follow-up examinations and optimal scheduling of delivery. These research programs will benefit from the use of well-defined sequences, standardized imaging protocols, and robust computational methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Siauve
- INSERM, U970, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center-PARCC, Paris, France; EA FETUS and LUMIERE Unit, Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France; Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
| | - Gihad E Chalouhi
- INSERM, U970, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center-PARCC, Paris, France; EA FETUS and LUMIERE Unit, Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Benjamin Deloison
- INSERM, U970, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center-PARCC, Paris, France; EA FETUS and LUMIERE Unit, Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Marianne Alison
- INSERM, U970, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center-PARCC, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Clement
- INSERM, U970, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center-PARCC, Paris, France; Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
| | - Yves Ville
- EA FETUS and LUMIERE Unit, Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Laurent J Salomon
- INSERM, U970, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center-PARCC, Paris, France; EA FETUS and LUMIERE Unit, Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
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30
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Krishnamurthy U, Szalai G, Shen Y, Xu Z, Yadav BK, Tarca AL, Chaiworapongsa T, Hernandez-Andrade E, Than NG, Haacke EM, Romero R, Neelavalli J. Longitudinal Changes in Placental Magnetic Resonance Imaging Relaxation Parameter in Murine Pregnancy: Compartmental Analysis. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2015; 81:193-201. [PMID: 26336923 PMCID: PMC4769121 DOI: 10.1159/000431223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To quantify gestation-dependent longitudinal changes in the magnetic resonance transverse relaxation time (T2) parameter of the major constituent regions of the mouse placenta and to evaluate their relative contributions to changes in overall placental T2. METHODS Timed-pregnant CD-1 mice underwent magnetic resonance imaging at 7.0 T field strength, on gestational day 13 (GD13), GD15 and GD17. T2 of the placenta and its constituent high and low blood perfusion regions were quantified. A linear mixed-effects model was used to fit the T2 across gestation, and the significance of coefficients was tested. RESULTS A decrease in the T2 values of the placenta and its constituent regions was observed across gestation. The temporal change in T2 was estimated to be -1.85 ms/GD (p < 0.0001) for the placenta, -1.00 ms/GD (p < 0.001) for the high-perfusion zones (HPZs) and -1.66 ms/GD (p < 0.0001) for the low-perfusion zones (LPZs). CONCLUSION T2 of the constituent zones of the murine placenta decreases with advancing gestation. While the T2 of the LPZ is smaller than that of the HPZ, there is no difference in their decrease rate relative to that of the whole placenta (p = 0.24). The results suggest an increased role of constituent volume fractions in affecting overall gestation-dependent placental T2 decrease in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uday Krishnamurthy
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Gabor Szalai
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Yimin Shen
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Zhonghui Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Brijesh Kumar Yadav
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Adi Laurentiu Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Edgar Hernandez-Andrade
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Nandor Gabor Than
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ewart Mark Haacke
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | | | - D Med Sci
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Jaladhar Neelavalli
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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31
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Avni R, Neeman M, Garbow JR. Functional MRI of the placenta--From rodents to humans. Placenta 2015; 36:615-22. [PMID: 25916594 PMCID: PMC4452090 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2015.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2015] [Revised: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The placenta performs a wide range of physiological functions; insufficiencies in these functions may result in a variety of severe prenatal and postnatal syndromes with long-term negative impacts on human adult health. Recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of placental function, in both animal models and humans, have contributed significantly to our understanding of placental structure, blood flow, oxygenation status, and metabolic profile, and have provided important insights into pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Avni
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - M Neeman
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
| | - J R Garbow
- Biomedical MR Laboratory, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
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32
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Andescavage NN, DuPlessis A, Limperopoulos C. Advanced MR imaging of the placenta: Exploring the in utero placenta-brain connection. Semin Perinatol 2015; 39:113-23. [PMID: 25765905 PMCID: PMC4409865 DOI: 10.1053/j.semperi.2015.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The placenta is a vital organ necessary for the healthy neurodevelopment of the fetus. Despite the known associations between placental dysfunction and neurologic impairment, there is a paucity of tools available to reliably assess in vivo placental health and function. Existing clinical tools for placental assessment remain insensitive in predicting and evaluating placental well-being. Advanced MRI techniques hold significant promise for the dynamic, non-invasive, real-time assessment of placental health and identification of early placental-based disorders. In this review, we summarize the available clinical tools for placental assessment, including ultrasound, Doppler, and conventional MRI. We then explore the emerging role of advanced placental MR imaging techniques for supporting the developing fetus and appraise the strengths and limitations of quantitative MRI in identifying early markers of placental dysfunction for improved pregnancy monitoring and fetal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nickie Niforatos Andescavage
- Division of Neonatology, Children’s National Health System, 111
Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20010,Fetal & Transitional Medicine, Children’s National Health
System, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20010,Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine,
2300 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC 20037
| | - Adre DuPlessis
- Fetal & Transitional Medicine, Children’s National Health
System, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20010,Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology, Children’s National Health
System, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20010,Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine,
2300 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC 20037
| | - Catherine Limperopoulos
- Division of Neonatology, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20010; Division of Fetal and Transitional Medicine, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20010; Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, 2300 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC 20037; Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20010; Division of Radiology, George Washington University School of Medicine, 2300 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC 20037.
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Krishnamurthy U, Neelavalli J, Mody S, Yeo L, Jella PK, Saleem S, Korzeniewski SJ, Cabrera MD, Ehterami S, Bahado-Singh RO, Katkuri Y, Haacke EM, Hernandez-Andrade E, Hassan SS, Romero R. MR imaging of the fetal brain at 1.5T and 3.0T field strengths: comparing specific absorption rate (SAR) and image quality. J Perinat Med 2015; 43:209-20. [PMID: 25324440 PMCID: PMC5987203 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2014-0268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Our two objectives were to evaluate the feasibility of fetal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a fast spin echo sequence at 3.0T field strength with low radio frequency (rf) energy deposition (as measured by specific absorption rate: SAR) and to compare image quality, tissue contrast and conspicuity between 1.5T and 3.0T MRI. METHODS T2 weighted images of the fetal brain at 1.5T were compared to similar data obtained in the same fetus using a modified sequence at 3.0T. Quantitative whole-body SAR and normalized image signal to noise ratio (SNR), a nominal scoring scheme based evaluation of diagnostic image quality, and tissue contrast and conspicuity for specific anatomical structures in the brain were compared between 1.5T and 3.0T. RESULTS Twelve pregnant women underwent both 1.5T and 3.0T MRI examinations. The image SNR was significantly higher (P=0.03) and whole-body SAR was significantly lower (P<0.0001) for images obtained at 3.0T compared to 1.5T. All cases at both field strengths were scored as having diagnostic image quality. Images from 3.0T MRI (compared to 1.5T) were equal (57%; 21/37) or superior (35%; 13/37) for tissue contrast and equal (61%; 20/33) or superior (33%, 11/33) for conspicuity. CONCLUSIONS It is possible to obtain fetal brain images with higher resolution and better SNR at 3.0T with simultaneous reduction in SAR compared to 1.5T. Images of the fetal brain obtained at 3.0T demonstrated superior tissue contrast and conspicuity compared to 1.5T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uday Krishnamurthy
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jaladhar Neelavalli
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Swati Mody
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Lami Yeo
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Pavan K. Jella
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Sheena Saleem
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Steven J. Korzeniewski
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; USA
| | - Maria D. Cabrera
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Shadi Ehterami
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Ray O. Bahado-Singh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, William Beaumont School of Medicine, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA
| | - Yashwanth Katkuri
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Ewart M. Haacke
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Edgar Hernandez-Andrade
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Sonia S. Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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MR angiography demonstrates a positive correlation between placental blood vessel volume and fetal size. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2014; 290:1127-31. [DOI: 10.1007/s00404-014-3341-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 06/26/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Frias AE, Schabel MC, Roberts VHJ, Tudorica A, Grigsby PL, Oh KY, Kroenke CD. Using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI to quantitatively characterize maternal vascular organization in the primate placenta. Magn Reson Med 2014; 73:1570-8. [PMID: 24753177 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.25264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2013] [Revised: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The maternal microvasculature of the primate placenta is organized into 10-20 perfusion domains that are functionally optimized to facilitate nutrient exchange to support fetal growth. This study describes a dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging method for identifying vascular domains and quantifying maternal blood flow in them. METHODS A rhesus macaque on the 133rd day of pregnancy (G133, term = 165 days) underwent Doppler ultrasound procedures, dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and Cesarean-section delivery. Serial T1 -weighted images acquired throughout intravenous injection of a contrast reagent bolus were analyzed to obtain contrast reagent arrival time maps of the placenta. RESULTS Watershed segmentation of the arrival time map identified 16 perfusion domains. The number and location of these domains corresponded to anatomical cotyledonary units observed following delivery. Analysis of the contrast reagent wave front through each perfusion domain enabled determination of volumetric flow, which ranged from 9.03 to 44.9 mL/s (25.2 ± 10.3 mL/s). These estimates are supported by Doppler ultrasound results. CONCLUSIONS The dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging analysis described here provides quantitative estimates of the number of maternal perfusion domains in a primate placenta and estimates flow within each domain. Anticipated extensions of this technique are to the study placental function in non-human primate models of obstetric complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio E Frias
- Division of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA; Division of Developmental and Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
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Sohlberg S, Mulic-Lutvica A, Lindgren P, Ortiz-Nieto F, Wikström AK, Wikström J. Placental perfusion in normal pregnancy and early and late preeclampsia: a magnetic resonance imaging study. Placenta 2014; 35:202-6. [PMID: 24529946 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2014.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2013] [Revised: 01/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our primary aim was to investigate if women with early or late preeclampsia have different placental perfusion compared with normal pregnancies. A secondary aim was to investigate if placental perfusion changes with increasing gestational age in normal pregnancy. METHODS The study population included thirteen women with preeclampsia (five with early and eight with late preeclampsia) and nineteen women with normal pregnancy (ten with early and nine with late pregnancy). Early was defined as <34 weeks and late as ≥ 34 weeks gestation. All women underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination including a diffusion weighted sequence at 1.5 T. The perfusion fraction was calculated. RESULTS Women with early preeclampsia had a smaller placental perfusion fraction (p = 0.001) and women with late preeclampsia had a larger placental perfusion fraction (p = 0.011), compared to women with normal pregnancies at the corresponding gestational age. The placental perfusion fraction decreased with increasing gestational age in normal pregnancies (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION Both early and late preeclampsia differ in placental perfusion from normal pregnant women. Observed differences are however in the opposite direction, suggesting differences in pathophysiology. Placental perfusion decreases with increasing gestational age in normal pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Sohlberg
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - A Mulic-Lutvica
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - P Lindgren
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - F Ortiz-Nieto
- Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - A-K Wikström
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - J Wikström
- Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Senat MV, Tsatsaris V. Surveillance anténatale, prise en charge et indications de naissance en cas de RCIU vasculaire isolé. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 42:941-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jgyn.2013.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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38
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Derwig I, Lythgoe DJ, Barker GJ, Poon L, Gowland P, Yeung R, Zelaya F, Nicolaides K. Association of placental perfusion, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and uterine artery Doppler ultrasound, and its relationship to pregnancy outcome. Placenta 2013; 34:885-91. [PMID: 23937958 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2013.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2013] [Revised: 07/08/2013] [Accepted: 07/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- I Derwig
- Harris Birthright Research Centre, Kings College Hospital, London, UK.
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40
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Deloison B, Millischer AE, Salomon LJ. IRM placentaire : physiologie et pathologie. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 41:394-403. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gyobfe.2013.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Dekan S, Linduska N, Kasprian G, Prayer D. MRI of the placenta - a short review. Wien Med Wochenschr 2012; 162:225-8. [PMID: 22717878 DOI: 10.1007/s10354-012-0073-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2011] [Accepted: 03/01/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
While ultrasound is still the gold standard method of placental investigation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has certain benefits. In advanced gestational age, obese women, and posterior placental location, MRI is advantageous due to the larger field of view and its multiplanar capabilities. Some pathologies are seen more clearly in MRI, such as infarctions and placental invasive disorders. The future development is towards functional placental MRI. Placental MRI has become an important complementary method for evaluation of placental anatomy and pathologies contributing to fetal problems such as intrauterine growth restriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Dekan
- Clinical Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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42
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Placental vascularity and resorption delay after conservative management of invasive placenta: MR imaging evaluation. Eur Radiol 2012; 23:262-71. [PMID: 22760345 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-012-2573-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2012] [Revised: 05/29/2012] [Accepted: 06/01/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the potential of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in evaluating placental vascularity and predicting placental resorption delay after conservative management of invasive placenta. METHODS MR examinations of 23 women with conservative management of invasive placenta were reviewed. Twelve women had pelvic embolisation because of postpartum haemorrhage (Group 1) and 11 had no embolisation (Group 2). Comparisons between the two groups were made with respect to the delay for complete placental resorption at follow-up MR imaging and degree of placental vascularity 24 h after delivery on early (30s) and late (180 s) phase of dynamic gadolinium chelate-enhanced MR imaging. RESULTS The median delay for complete placental resorption in the cohort study was 21.1 weeks (range, 1-111 weeks). In Group 1, the median delay for complete placental resorption was shorter than in Group 2 (17 vs 32 weeks) (P = 0.036). Decreased placental vascularity on the early phase was observed in Group 1 by comparison with Group 2 (P = 0.003). Significant correlation was found between the degree of vascularity on early phase of dynamic MR imaging and the delay for complete placental resorption (r = 0.693; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS MR imaging provides useful information after conservative management of invasive placenta and may help predict delay for complete placental resorption.
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Deloison B, Siauve N, Aimot S, Balvay D, Thiam R, Cuenod CA, Ville Y, Clement O, Salomon LJ. SPIO-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging study of placental perfusion in a rat model of intrauterine growth restriction. BJOG 2012; 119:626-33. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2011.03251.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Linduska N, Messerschmidt A, Dekan S, Brugger PC, Weber M, Pollak A, Prayer D. Placental magnetic resonance imaging in monochorionic twin pregnancies. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2011; 25:1419-22. [PMID: 22070182 DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2011.636106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a severe complication of monochorionic pregnancies. Placental hydrops might be a marker for TTTS. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether differences in the placental parenchyma due to TTTS can be seen with fetal MRI. METHODS In a retrospective study, 34 monochorionic pregnancies were investigated on a 1.5 Tesla MR. Seventeen pregnancies were affected by TTTS, and 17 showed no clinical signs of TTTS. Placental maturation and vascular pathologies, as well as the extent of the placental findings and allocation of placental tissue to each twin, were investigated. Placental findings were reported for origin, size, maturation, and placental thickness, and were correlated with the presence of TTTS. RESULTS All placentas affected by TTTS showed abnormal maturation on MR scans, but only 64.7% of the non-TTTS group (p = 0.018). Vascular placental pathologies did not differ significantly between the TTTS and non-TTTS group. CONCLUSIONS MR-signs of placental maturity in monochorionic twin pregnancies may indicate a lower risk of development of TTTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Linduska
- Division of Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care and Neuropediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria.
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Melchiorre K, Sutherland GR, Liberati M, Bhide A, Thilaganathan B. Prevalence of maternal cardiac defects in women with high-resistance uterine artery Doppler indices. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2011; 37:310-316. [PMID: 20882562 DOI: 10.1002/uog.8850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/24/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare the prevalence of previously undiagnosed cardiac structural abnormalities in pregnant women with normal- and high-resistance midtrimester uterine artery Doppler indices. METHODS Maternal transthoracic echocardiography was undertaken in asymptomatic pregnant women after uterine artery Doppler screening for pre-eclampsia at 21-23 weeks' gestation. Women with a mean uterine artery pulsatility index above the 90(th) centile (1.25) for the local population (multiethnic, socially diverse and migrant) were considered to have high-resistance uteroplacental blood flow indices. The prevalence of newly diagnosed cardiac structural defects in these women was recorded. RESULTS A total of 491 women underwent echocardiography, of whom 205 had high-resistance uterine artery blood flow indices. There were nine previously undiagnosed, functionally significant cardiac defects in the high-resistance uterine artery blood flow group and only one, functionally insignificant cardiac defect in the normal-resistance group (P = 0.005; relative risk = 12.6, 95% confidence interval, 1.60-98.34). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that both uterine artery Doppler indices (P = 0.024) and ethnicity (P = 0.048) contributed independently towards a higher prevalence of cardiac defects. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of previously undiagnosed maternal cardiac structural abnormalities is significantly increased in women with high midtrimester uterine artery Doppler resistance indices. This observation has important consequences for the current and long-term medical care provided to these patients. Detailed maternal cardiac assessment with echocardiography may be required in migrant women with high uterine artery Doppler indices.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Melchiorre
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St George's Hospital, University of London, London, UK
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Chalouhi GE, Deloison B, Siauve N, Aimot S, Balvay D, Cuenod CA, Ville Y, Clément O, Salomon LJ. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging: definitive imaging of placental function? Semin Fetal Neonatal Med 2011; 16:22-8. [PMID: 20851065 DOI: 10.1016/j.siny.2010.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The placenta constitutes a complex circulatory interface between the mother and fetus, but the relationship between the maternal and fetal circulation is still very difficult to study in vivo. There is growing evidence that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful and safe during pregnancy, and MRI is increasingly used for fetal and placental anatomical imaging. MRI functional imaging is now a modern obstetric tool and has the potential to provide new insights into the physiology of the human placenta. Placental perfusion has been studied during the first pass of an MR contrast agent, by arterial spin labeling, diffusion imaging, T1 and T2 relaxation time measurement using echo-planar imaging, and by a combination of magnetization transfer with established stereological methods. The BOLD (blood oxygen level-dependent) effect offers new perspectives for functional MRI evaluation of the placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- G E Chalouhi
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Imagerie (LRI), INSERM U970, Equipe N°2, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, 56 rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France
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Bonel HM, Stolz B, Diedrichsen L, Frei K, Saar B, Tutschek B, Raio L, Surbek D, Srivastav S, Nelle M, Slotboom J, Wiest R. Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of the placenta in fetuses with placental insufficiency. Radiology 2011; 257:810-9. [PMID: 21084415 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.10092283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the human placenta in fetuses with and fetuses without intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) who were suspected of having placental insufficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was approved by the local ethics committee, and written informed consent was obtained. The authors retrospectively evaluated 1.5-T fetal MR images from 102 singleton pregnancies (mean gestation ± standard deviation, 29 weeks ± 5; range, 21-41 weeks). Morphologic and diffusion-weighted MR imaging were performed. A region of interest analysis of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the placenta was independently performed by two observers who were blinded to clinical data and outcome. Placental insufficiency was diagnosed if flattening of the growth curve was detected at obstetric ultrasonography (US), if the birth weight was in the 10th percentile or less, or if fetal weight estimated with US was below the 10th percentile. Abnormal findings at Doppler US of the umbilical artery and histopathologic examination of specimens from the placenta were recorded. The ADCs in fetuses with placental insufficiency were compared with those in fetuses of the same gestational age without placental insufficiency and tested for normal distribution. The t tests and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to compare these results at 5% levels of significance. RESULTS Thirty-three of the 102 pregnancies were ultimately categorized as having an insufficient placenta. MR imaging depicted morphologic changes (eg, infarction or bleeding) in 27 fetuses. Placental dysfunction was suspected in 33 fetuses at diffusion-weighted imaging (mean ADC, 146.4 sec/mm(2) ± 10.63 for fetuses with placental insufficiency vs 177.1 sec/mm(2) ± 18.90 for fetuses without placental insufficiency; P < .01, with one false-positive case). The use of diffusion-weighted imaging in addition to US increased sensitivity for the detection of placental insufficiency from 73% to 100%, increased accuracy from 91% to 99%, and preserved specificity at 99%. CONCLUSION Placental dysfunction associated with growth restriction is associated with restricted diffusion and reduced ADC. A decreased ADC used as an early marker of placental damage might be indicative of pregnancy complications such as IUGR. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL http://radiology.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/radiol.10092283/-/DC1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Marcel Bonel
- Institute for Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 10, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
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Intervillous circulation in intra-uterine growth restriction. Correlation to fetal well being. Placenta 2010; 31:1051-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2010.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2010] [Revised: 09/06/2010] [Accepted: 09/07/2010] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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50
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Demir R, Yaba A, Huppertz B. Vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in the endometrium during menstrual cycle and implantation. Acta Histochem 2010; 112:203-14. [PMID: 19481785 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2009.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2009] [Revised: 03/26/2009] [Accepted: 04/04/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Blood vessels develop via two subsequent processes, vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, both being of crucial importance during menstrual cycle and implantation. These processes are also involved in the development of the fetal and placental vasculatures. During vasculogenesis, formation of the earliest primitive capillaries is achieved by in situ differentiation of hemangiogenic stem cells that are derived from pluripotent mesenchymal cells. The subsequent process, angiogenesis, is characterized by development of new vessels from already existing vessels, and is a well coordinated process initiated by stimulation of various growth factors. Vasculogenesis and angiogenesis are important and complex processes involving extensive interplay between cells and growth factors. The development, maturation and maintenance of the vascular network are necessary for successful hemochorial placentation as well as normal embryonic development and growth. In this review, we outline the basic mechanisms of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle and different stages of implantation, and consider how this data can be applied to human pregnancy. Recent studies have shown that during the initiation steps of implantation, angiogenic factors trigger vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Different inducers and stimulators affect angiogenesis and vasculogenesis by directly or indirectly stimulating proliferation, differentiation and migration of endothelial or respective precursor cells. As a conclusion, understanding the mechanisms of angiogenesis and the roles of angiogenic factors during the menstrual cycle and implantation may provide new insights and possible approaches for embryo implantation and healthy pregnancy.
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