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In vivo assessment of placental and brain volumes in growth-restricted fetuses with and without fetal Doppler changes using quantitative 3D MRI

Journal of Perinatology volume 37, pages 1278–1284 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

The relationship between placental and fetal brain growth is poorly understood and difficult to assess. The objective of this study was to interrogate placental and fetal brain growth in healthy pregnancies and those complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Study Design:

In a prospective, observational study, pregnant women with normal pregnancies or pregnancies complicated by FGR underwent fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Placental, global and regional brain volumes were calculated.

Results:

A total of 114 women (79 controls and 35 FGR) underwent MRI (median gestational age (GA) 30 weeks, range 18 to 39). All measured volumes increased exponentially with advancing GA. Placental, total brain, cerebral and cerebellar volumes were smaller in FGR compared with controls (P<0.05). Increasing placental volume was associated with increasing cerebral and cerebellar volumes (P<0.05).

Conclusion:

Quantitative fetal MRI can accurately detect decreased placental and brain volumes in pregnancies with FGR and may provide insight into the timing and mechanisms of brain injury in FGR.

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Acknowledgements

We thank our families who participated in this study. This study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP-81116 to CL) and the National Institutes of Health (UL1TR000075 and KL2TR000076, Clinical-Translational Science Institute–Children’s National to NA).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC, USA

    N Andescavage

  2. Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    N Andescavage, A duPlessis & C Limperopoulos

  3. Division of Fetal and Transitional Medicine, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC, USA

    A duPlessis, M Metzler & C Limperopoulos

  4. Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC, USA

    D Bulas, G Vezina & C Limperopoulos

  5. Department of Radiology, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    D Bulas, G Vezina & C Limperopoulos

  6. Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC, USA

    M Jacobs

  7. Division of Maternal Fetal-Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA

    S N Iqbal

  8. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy, Baltimore, MD, USA

    A Baschat

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Correspondence to C Limperopoulos.

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Andescavage, N., duPlessis, A., Metzler, M. et al. In vivo assessment of placental and brain volumes in growth-restricted fetuses with and without fetal Doppler changes using quantitative 3D MRI. J Perinatol 37, 1278–1284 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2017.129

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2017.129

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