Velocity-selective Arterial Spin Labeling Perfusion Measurements in 2nd Trimester Human Placenta with Varying BMI

Overview

Journal Placenta

Publisher Elsevier

Specialties Gynecology & Obstetrics
Physiology
Reproductive Medicine

Date 2024 Apr 14

PMID 38615536

Authors

Daniel Seiter

Ruiming Chen

Kai D Ludwig

Ante Zhu

Dinesh Shah

Oliver Wieben

Kevin M Johnson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Proper placental development is crucial to fetal health but is challenging to functionally assess non-invasively and is thus poorly characterized in populations. Body mass index (BMI) has been linked with adverse outcomes, but the causative mechanism is uncertain. Velocity-selective arterial spin labeling (VS-ASL) MRI provides a method to non-invasively measure placental perfusion with robustness to confounding transit time delays. In this study, we report on the measurement of perfusion in the human placenta in early pregnancy using velocity-selective arterial spin labeling (VS-ASL) MRI, comparing non-obese and obese participants.

Methods: Participants (N = 97) undergoing routine prenatal care were recruited and imaged with structural and VS-ASL perfusion MRI at 15 and 21 weeks gestation. Resulting perfusion images were analyzed with respect to obesity based on BMI, gestational age, and the presence of adverse outcomes.

Results: At 15 weeks gestation BMI was not associated with placental perfusion or perfusion heterogeneity. However, at 21 weeks gestation BMI was associated with higher placental perfusion (p < 0.01) and a decrease in perfusion heterogeneity (p < 0.05). In alignment with past studies, perfusion values were also higher at 21 weeks compared to 15 weeks gestation. In a small cohort of participants with adverse outcomes, at 21 weeks lower perfusion was observed compared to participants with uncomplicated pregnancies.

Discussion: These results suggest low placental perfusion in the early second trimester may not be the culpable factor driving associations of obesity with adverse outcomes.

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