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Fetal brain magnetic resonance imaging and long‐term neurodevelopmental impairment
Author(s) -
Banović Vladimir,
Škrablin Snježana,
Banović Maja,
Radoš Marko,
GverićAhmetašević Snježana,
Babić Ivan
Publication year - 2014
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 - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2013.12.007
Subject(s) - medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , fetus , intrauterine growth restriction , obstetrics , apgar score , umbilical cord , incidence (geometry) , neonatal encephalopathy , gestation , pregnancy , radiology , encephalopathy , anatomy , physics , biology , optics , genetics
Objective To determine the incidence of fetal brain injury by fetal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in pregnancies complicated with preterm labor (PL), preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM), and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and to compare fetal brain MRI with prenatal surveillance methods, and with immediate and long‐term neurodevelopmental outcome. Methods Between February 2007 and January 2009, high‐risk pregnancies were analyzed by MRI at 1.5 Tesla after 24 weeks of gestation at the Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb, Croatia. Long‐term outcome was defined as neurodevelopmental outcome at 24 months. Results Among 70 pregnancies analyzed, 40.0% had abnormal fetal brain MRI. The highest incidence occurred in the PL group. There was no correlation between abnormal MRI and fetal surveillance methods (ultrasound, Doppler blood flow analysis, cardiotocography, biophysical profile) or immediate neonatal outcome (1‐minute Apgar score, umbilical cord pH). Via MRI, fetal brain injury would have been diagnosed for 45.7% of fetuses with a long‐term neurodevelopmental handicap. Binary logistic regression showed that, as compared with other surveillance methods, fetal brain MRI was the best predictor of long‐term neurodevelopmental disability. Conclusion PL, IUGR, and PPROM were associated with an early intrauterine CNS insult that was not accurately detected by existing prenatal testing options.