Novel placental ultrasound assessment: Potential role in pre-gestational diabetic pregnancy

- 3D Placental volume is higher in diabetic than in normal pregnancies.
- VI and VFI are lower in diabetic placentae than normal from 35 weeks gestation.
- The flow index is lower in diabetic than in normal placentae from 30 weeks.
- The FI in diabetic placentae decreases as volume increases.
- Computerised calculation of placental calcification is lower in delayed maturation.

ObjectivesManagement of women with pre-gestational diabetes continues to be challenging for clinicians. This study aims to determine if 3D power Doppler (3DPD) analysis of placental volume and flow, and calculation of placental calcification using a novel software method, differ between pregnancies with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and normal controls, and if there is a relationship between these ultrasound placental parameters and clinical measures in diabetics.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study of 50 women with diabetes and 250 controls (12-40 weeks gestation). 3DPD ultrasound was used to evaluate placental volume, vascularisation index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularisation-flow index (VFI). Placental calcification was calculated by computer analysis. Results in diabetics were compared with control values, and correlated with early pregnancy HbA1c, Doppler results and placental histology.ResultsPlacental calcification and volume increased with advancing gestation in pre-gestational diabetic placentae. Volume was also found to be significantly higher than in normal placentae. VI and VFI were significantly lower in diabetic pregnancies between 35 and 40 weeks gestation. A strong relationship was seen between a larger placental volume and both increasing umbilical artery pulsatility index and decreasing middle cerebral artery pulsatility index. FI was significantly lower in cases which had a booking HbA1c level ≥6.5%. Ultrasound assessed placental calcification was reduced with a histology finding of delayed villous maturation. No other correlation with placental histology was found.ConclusionsThis study shows a potential role for 3D placental evaluation, and computer analysis of calcification, in monitoring pre-gestational diabetic pregnancies.