Objective: A link between maternal thyroid function and the placental biomarkers, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF), has been brought forward. This study aimed to describe their association in early pregnancy.
Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Matern Health Neonatol Perinatol
August 2024
Background: Maternal hypothyroidism in pregnancy has been proposed to increase the risk of preeclampsia, but uncertainties persist regarding the underlying causal mechanisms. Thus, it remains unclear if an increased risk of preeclampsia in hypothyroid pregnant women is caused by the lack of thyroid hormones or by the autoimmunity per se.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of two pregnancy cohorts in the Danish population.
Objective: To compare ultrasound-assessed fetal head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), HC/AC ratio, and estimated fetal weight (EFW) in prediction of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) at birth in pregnancies affected by type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 (T2DM) diabetes.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all women with T1DM and T2DM giving birth to singletons between 2010 and 2019 at Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark. Ultrasound scans were performed at 16, 20, 28 and 34 weeks of pregnancy.
Prenat Diagn
June 2023
Objectives: We aimed to compare cell-based NIPT (cbNIPT) to chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and to examine the test characteristics of cbNIPT in the first clinical validation study of cbNIPT compared to cell-free NIPT (cfNIPT).
Material And Methods: Study 1: Women (N = 92) who accepted CVS were recruited for cbNIPT (53 normal and 39 abnormal). Samples were analyzed with chromosomal microarray (CMA).
Background: It is a matter of debate whether 1 universal standard, such as the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century standard, can be applied to all populations.
Objective: The primary objective was to establish a Danish newborn standard based on the criteria of the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century standard to compare the percentiles of these 2 standards. A secondary objective was to compare the prevalence and risk of fetal and neonatal deaths related to small for gestational age defined by the 2 standards when used in the Danish reference population.
Introduction: Transverse relaxation time (T2*) is related to tissue oxygenation and morphology. We aimed to describe T2* weighted MRI in selected fetal organs in normal pregnancies, and to investigate the correlation between fetal organ T2* and placental T2*, birthweight (BW) deviation, and redistribution of fetal blood flow.
Methods: T2*-weighted MRI was performed in 126 singleton pregnancies between 23+6- and 41+3-weeks' gestation.
Background: The antenatal identification of placental dysfunction in small-for-gestational-age fetuses with normal fetal Doppler flows remains an obstetrical challenge. In a significant fraction of such pregnancies, placental dysfunction is revealed by clinical manifestations such as preeclampsia, preterm delivery, or severe small-for-gestational-age at birth or by abnormal findings in the postnatal placental histologic examination. Therefore, new methods to identify placental function directly in pregnancy at the time of small-for-gestational-age diagnosis is highly needed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Specific placental pathologies that may impact fetal development, such as vascular malperfusion, are diagnosed postpartum. We aimed to evaluate if placental perfusion fraction (f) derived from intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) analysis of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) can be used to identify specific types of placental vascular malperfusion antenatally.
Method: 93 women who underwent placental DWI with multiple b-values at 23.
Objective: The antenatal detection of small for gestational age (SGA) pregnancies is a challenge, which may be improved by placental MRI. The longitudinal relaxation time (T1) is a tissue constant related to tissue morphology and tissue oxygenation, thereby placental T1 may be related to placental function. The aim of this study is to investigate placental T1 in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and SGA pregnancies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Placental dysfunction may be found among normal birth weight (BW) pregnancies, as indicated by abnormal histological findings in postnatal placental examination in some of these pregnancies. T2* weighted placental MRI provides non-invasive information on placental oxygenation and thereby placental function. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between placental T2*, BW and placental histology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Placental transverse relaxation time (T2) assessed by MRI may have the potential to improve the antenatal identification of small for gestational age. The aims of this study were to provide normal values of placental T2 in relation to gestational age at the time of MRI and to explore the correlation between placental T2 and birthweight.
Material And Methods: A mixed cohort of 112 singleton pregnancies was retrieved from our placental MRI research database.
Introduction: Our aim was to assess placental function by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) analysis in uncomplicated pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by placental dysfunction.
Methods: 31 normal pregnancies and 9 pregnancies complicated by placental dysfunction (birthweight ≤ -2SD and histological signs of placental vascular malperfusion) were retrieved from our placental MRI research database. MRI was performed at gestational weeks 20.
Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am
March 2020
This article describes the use of placental magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relaxation times in the in vivo assessment of placental function. It focuses on T2*-weighted placental MRI, the main area of the authors' research over the past decade. The rationale behind T2*-weighted placental MRI, the main findings reported in the literature, and directions for future research and clinical applications of this method are discussed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: It is well established that correct antenatal identification of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses reduces their risk of adverse perinatal outcome with long-term consequences. Ultrasound estimates of fetal weight (EFW ) are the ultimate tool for this identification. It can be conducted as a "universal screening", that is, all pregnant women at a specific gestational age.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Intertwin birthweight (BW) difference is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcome. Ultrasound estimated fetal weight (EFW) is the current method to predict intertwin BW difference, however, the sensitivity is poor. Therefore, new methods are needed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Pregnancy complicated by diabetes mellitus (DM) is a central obstetric problem often complicated by fetal macrosomia and increased risk of intrapartum asphyxia. This risk might be explained by fetoplacental vascular abnormalities. This study aimed to investigate the fetoplacental vascular volume by placental CT angiography in normal pregnancies and in pregnancies complicated by type 1 DM (T1DM), diet controlled gestational DM (GDMd), and insulin treated gestational DM (GDMi).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Current knowledge of the fetoplacental vasculature in fetal growth restriction (FGR) due to placental dysfunction focuses on the microvasculature rather than the macrovasculature. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of computed tomography angiography to analyze the fetoplacental macrovasculature in normal and FGR pregnancies.
Material And Methods: We included 29 placentas (22-42 weeks of gestation) from normal birthweight pregnancies and eight placentas (26-37 weeks of gestation) from FGR pregnancies (birthweight < -15% and abnormal umbilical Doppler flow).
Objective: Neonates at low birth weight due to placental dysfunction are at high risk of adverse outcomes. These outcomes can be substantially improved by prenatal identification. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) constant, placental T2* reflects placental structure and oxygenation and thereby placental function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: During placental Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), we have observed spontaneous reductions in placental oxygenation lasting 2-4 min. We hypothesize, that these reductions in placental oxygenation are caused by subclinical uterine contractions.
Methods: We evaluated placental oxygenation during a five-minute placental BOLD MRI in 56 normal pregnancies (gestational week 23-40) and observed a spontaneous reduction in eight cases.
Estimating placental oxygen transport capacity is highly desirable, as impaired placental function is associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and poor neonatal outcome. In clinical obstetrics, a noninvasive method to estimate the placental oxygen transport is not available, and the current methods focus on fetal well-being rather than on direct assessment of placental function. In this article, we aim to estimate the placental oxygen transport using the hyperoxic placental blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) response.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The aim of this study was to examine in detail levels and patterns of physical activity in preschool children and the effects of gender and BMI on this activity.
Methods: Two hundred and fifty-three children aged 5 y participating in the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood wore an accelerometer day and night over a 4-wk period. The main outcome measure was level of physical activity using the raw data.