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Three‐dimensional Doppler ultrasonography for the assessment of fetal liver vascularization in fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction
Author(s) -
Molina Giraldo Saulo,
Alfonso Ayala Diana A.,
Arreaza Graterol Mortimer,
Perez Olivo Jose L.,
Solano Montero Armicson F.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.12715
Subject(s) - fetus , intrauterine growth restriction , medicine , ultrasonography , pregnancy , ultrasound , blood flow , fetal growth , power doppler , doppler ultrasound , obstetrics , radiology , biology , genetics
Objective To demonstrate changes in hepatic volume and vascular indices in fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction ( IUGR ) compared with normal‐growth fetuses, using a noninvasive method (three‐dimensional power Doppler ultrasound). Methods The present cross‐sectional study was conducted between September 1 and November 30, 2014, at a maternal–fetal medicine unit in Bogotá, Colombia; it included consecutive women at 24–34 weeks of pregnancy. The fetal liver volume and indices of hepatic vascularization were determined with three‐dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography and compared between fetuses with and without a diagnosis of IUGR . Results A total of 119 women met study inclusion criteria; 97 fetuses had no growth restriction, whereas 22 fetuses had IUGR . The latter group had decreased liver volume (57.85 ± 29.71 mL vs 86.99 ± 31.24 mL ; P =0.010) and increased vascular indices (vascularization index, 47.92 ± 34.44 versus 22.46 ± 18.95; flow index, 71.39 ± 42.01 versus 41.11 ± 23.24; vascularization flow index, 47.94 ± 47.96 versus 13.67 ± 22.38; P =0.003 for all comparisons).Conclusion Liver volume was decreased and liver vascular indices values were increased in fetuses with IUGR . These findings imply that evaluation of hepatic vascularization with three‐dimensional hepatic Doppler could be useful in the diagnosis of IUGR .