Publications by authors named "Meghana Toal"

Objective: We evaluated the role of placental morphology ultrasound and uterine artery Doppler in predicting adverse perinatal outcomes in women with unexplained elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Methods: Women with a serum AFP > 2.0 MoM (n = 83) or serum hCG > 2.

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Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of placental ultrasound imaging at 19-23 weeks of gestation in clinically high-risk women with abnormal uterine artery Doppler (UTAD).

Study Design: Placentas of 60 women with abnormal UTAD were examined at 19-23 weeks of gestation for shape and texture abnormalities. Findings were correlated with clinical outcomes (preterm delivery at <32 weeks of gestation; birth weight <10th percentile [small for gestational age]; preeclampsia/hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets; early-onset intrauterine growth restriction with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler; and intrauterine fetal death) and maternal serum screening data.

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Objective: Test the hypothesis that a placental function profile can reassure most high-risk women with normal test results yet accurately can identify a subset of women who are destined for major complications that will be attributable to placental disease.

Study Design: This was a prospective study of 212 high-risk pregnancies that used the placental profile (16- to 18-week maternal serum screening, 18- to 23-week uterine artery Doppler imaging, and placental morphologic condition). Odds ratios (95% CI) were derived for intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), preterm delivery at < 34 weeks of gestation, preeclampsia/hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome (HELLP) syndrome, small for gestational age delivery, and early-onset intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR); all normal test results (n =125) were compared with > or = 1 abnormal test results.

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