Efficiency of placental three dimentional power Doppler ultrasonography for predicting preeclampsia in early pregnancy

Abstract

Purpose: to evaluate the role of three dimentional power doppler ultrasonography (3D PDUS) of the uteroplacental circulation in early pregnancy as a screening tool for prediction of preeclampsia. Patients and methods: 50 pregnant women who came to do routine ultrasound scan between 11 and 13.6 weeks of pregnancy during the period from February 2016 to April 2016. Placental volume and vascularization indices were obtained, and vascular index (VI), flow index (FI), blood vessels and blood flow index (VFI) were calculated by three-dimensional Doppler histogram. Results: Of the included 50 pregnant women, 22% developed preeclampsia and 78% did not develop preeclampsia. The placental blood flow perfusion in patients with pre-eclampsia had a lower VI, FI and VFI compared to non preeclamptic women with highly significant statistical difference (P < 0.001) Conclusion: 3D PDUS can be used as an effective screening tool to predict preeclampsia in early pregnancy. Keywords: 3D PDUS, VI, FI, VFI, Preeclampsia