Clinical Evaluation of Pulsatile Blood Flow Detection to Visualize the Placental Vasculature and Predict Pregnancy Induced Hypertension

  • Dr Rie Oyama, Iwate Medical University, Depertment of OB& GY, Japan
  • Dr Ayako Iwane, Iwate Medical University, Depertment of OB& GY, Japan
  • Dr Tomonori Knashugi, Iwate Medical University, Depertment of OB& GY, Japan
  • Dr Chizuko Ishurugi, Japan
  • Dr Tatsuya Honda, Japan
  • Dr Tadahiro Shouji, Iwate Medical University, Depertment of OB& GY, Japan
  • Prof Toru Shugiyama, Japan

    • Purpose: To assess utero-placental blood flow using the sonographic Pulsatile blood Flow Detection (PFD) method, to determine differences in the relationships in normal pregnancy and Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension(PIH) , and finally, to predict the time to onset of PIH
    Methods: 170 cases of normal singleton pregnant women who were divided into 6 groups. 30 cases of PIH that were diagnosed after their first PFD method. The ROI of the placenta including the basal plate was determined using image analysis software, and the percentage of PFD in ROI (PFD/ placental ROI) was measured. These parameters were analyzed using Fisher’s PLSD
    Results:
    1. The PFD/placental ROI was significantly higher (23.08±4.00%) at 11 week’s gestation.
    2. PFD/placental ROI of the PIH group (1.50±0.30%) were significantly lower compared with normal pregnancy (14.14±1.40%) at 13week’s gestation.
    Conclusions: Early knowledge of PIH is beneficial especially for the pregnant women who were scanned using the PFD method.