ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN FETUSES UNDERGOING ACUTE PAIN: VALIDATION OF THE FETAL-7 SCALE.

Improvements in fetal ultrasound have allowed for the diagnosis and treatment of fetal diseases in the uterus, often though surgery. However, little attention has been drawn to the assessment of fetal pain. To address this gap, a fetal pain scoring system, known as the Fetal-7 scale, was developed. The present study is a full validation of the Fetal-7 scale. The validation involved two steps: i. four fetuses with indication of surgery were evaluated in three conditions perioperatively: acute pain, rest, and under loud sound stimulation. Facial expressions were assessed by 30 raters using screenshots from 4D high-definition ultrasound films; ii., assessment of sensitivity and specificity of the Fetal-7 scale in 54 healthy fetuses and two fetuses undergoing acute pain after preoperative anesthetic intramuscular injection. There was high internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha (α) of 0.99. Intra-rater reliability of the Fetal-7 scale (test-retest) calculated by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.95, and inter-rater reliability was 0.99. The scale accurately differentiated between healthy fetuses at rest and those experiencing acute pain (sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 94.4%). The Fetal-7 scale is a valid tool for assessing acute pain-related behavior in third trimester fetuses and may be of value in guiding analgesic procedures efficacy in these patients. Further research is warranted to explore the presence of post-operative pain in fetuses and its effects afterbirth. PERSPECTIVE: Recordings with three-dimension ultrasound of human fetuses undergoing pre-operative anesthetic injections revealed complex facial expressions during acute pain, similar to those collected in newborns. This study presented the validation process and cut-off value of the Fetal-7 scale, paving the way for the study of pain before birth in humans.

Pictures as mementos after perinatal death: a case study.

BACKGROUND: The grieving process following perinatal loss caused by life-limiting conditions presents some particularities associated with the family's culture and the symbolic relationship with the deceased. OBJECTIVE: To reflect on the symbolic meaning attributed to mementos, particularly pictures taken immediately after birth. METHOD: Case study-a qualitative analysis of the data collected through semidirected interviews. RESULTS: Of the three women that took part in the study, one woman chose not to take a picture but opted to take home the hat with her son's name on it that was provided as a regular procedure for every birth at the maternity centre. During the interview, she questioned her decision. The two other women took pictures and still look at them affectionate. One of the women keeps the picture of her child in a shrine at home, thus attributing a symbolic religious meaning to the whole experience that alleviates her pain. CONCLUSION: The symbolic meaning attributed to pictures of the deceased can help parents process grief.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha and Gamma Variants among Symptomatic Pregnant Women: A Two-Center Retrospective Cohort Study between France and Brazil.

New variants of SARS-CoV-2 are a major source of concern, especially for pregnant women and in the perinatal context. The primary aim of this study was to compare the severity of COVID-19 infection in pregnant women depending on strain predominance between wild-type Alpha and Gamma variants. The secondary aim was to study the impact of these strains on obstetrical and neonatal outcomes. We conducted a two-center international retrospective cohort study, which included two type III maternity hospitals, one in France and one in Brazil, comparing the first period corresponding to the wild-type strain and the second period corresponding to the predominance of the Alpha variant in France and the Gamma variant in Brazil. We included 151 pregnant women with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by RT-PCR. The rate of severe-to-critical infection, according to the WHO definition, was seven-fold higher in patients infected during the "variant period" than in patients infected during the "wild-type period" (aOR = 7.07, 95CI [2.50−21.6], p < 0.001). There were no statistical differences concerning composite obstetrical and neonatal outcomes between the different periods. While analyzing each variant separately, it was found that, in France, the risk of developing a severe-to-critical infection was three times greater during the Alpha period than during the wild-type period (OR = 3.25, 95CI [0.70−15.6], p = 0.13) and, in Brazil, the risk was twelve times greater during the Gamma period than during the wild-type period (OR = 11.8, 95CI [2.46−72.3], p = 0.003). The Alpha and Gamma variants of SARS-CoV-2 seem to be more dangerous in the obstetrical context. With the rapid emergence of new variants, it is necessary to accelerate vaccination to protect women and newborn children.

Individual exposure to urban air pollution and its correlation with placental angiogenic markers in the first trimester of pregnancy, in São Paulo, Brazil.

Pollution of the atmosphere is known that may lead to adverse obstetric outcomes, including fetal growth restriction, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia. Such disorders are correlated with imbalances in angiogenic factors, which may also be involved in the pathological mechanism as the pollutants impact placental and maternal physiology. In the first trimester of gestation, this study assessed the outcomes of personal maternal short period exposure to air pollution on soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1) and placental growth factor (PLGF) of pregnant women blood concentrations. This was a cross-sectional study, held in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and conducted with low-risk pregnant women, who carried personal passive nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) monitors for about a few days preceding the ultrasound evaluation, and on this day, the venous blood sample was collected to measure the angiogenic factors sFlt1 and PLGF and their ratio (sFlt1/PLGF) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). By means of multiple regression models, the effect of the studied pollutants on the log-transformed concentrations of the angiogenic factors was evaluated. One hundred thirty-one patients were included. The log of the sFlt1/PLGF ratio increased with rising NO2 levels (p = 0.021 and beta = 0.206), and the log of the PLGF concentration showed a negative correlation with NO2 (p = 0.008 and beta = - 0.234). NO2, an indicator of the levels of primary air pollutants, presented significant positive correlation with an increased sFlt1/PLGF ratio and diminished PLGF levels, which may reflect an antiangiogenic state generated by air pollution exposure.

Outcomes following medical termination versus prolonged pregnancy in women with severe preeclampsia before 26 weeks.

OBJECTIVE: To compare maternal complications and describe neonatal outcomes in women with severe preeclampsia at ≤ 26+0 weeks in two countries with different management policies: expectant management (Brazil) versus termination of pregnancy (France). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective comparative study by reviewing the medical records of women with severe preeclampsia at ≤ 26+0 weeks, from January 2010 to June 2018, in two centers: Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, in Sao Paulo, Brazil (where medical abortion is forbidden in this indication) and Hôpital Antoine-Béclère, Clamart, France (where medical termination is accepted). We collected information on maternal characteristics, laboratory tests, maternal complications and fetal and newborn characteristics. We used Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney U nonparametric test to compare quantitative variables, and Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test to evaluate the associations between the qualitative variables. RESULTS: There was no between-group difference in maternal complications during hospitalization (p = 0.846). In Brazil, the rate of cesarean section was 66.7%, and 20% of patients had vertical incision. The rate of spontaneous fetal death was 35.6% and among the live-born infants 26.6% were discharged from hospital. In France, one patient had a cesarean section with vertical incision. CONCLUSION: When comparing termination of pregnancy to expectant management in severe preeclampsia before 26 weeks, maternal complications were equivalent but maternal reproductive future might have been compromised in 20% of cases due to a higher risk of uterine rupture in subsequent pregnancies for patients having classic cesarean (vertical incision). 26.6% of children survived the neonatal period when pregnancy was pursued, however we lack information on their long-term follow-up.

Sorting pain out of salience: assessment of pain facial expressions in the human fetus.

INTRODUCTION: The question of whether the human fetus experiences pain has received substantial attention in recent times. With the advent of high-definition 4-dimensional ultrasound (4D-US), it is possible to record fetal body and facial expressions. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether human fetuses demonstrate discriminative acute behavioral responses to nociceptive input. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 5 fetuses with diaphragmatic hernia with indication of intrauterine surgery (fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion) and 8 healthy fetuses, who were scanned with 4D-US in 1 of 3 conditions: (1) acute pain group: Fetuses undergoing intrauterine surgery were assessed in the preoperative period during the anesthetic injection into the thigh; (2) control group at rest: Facial expressions at rest were recorded during scheduled ultrasound examinations; and (3) control group acoustic startle: Fetal facial expressions were recorded during acoustic stimulus (500-4000 Hz; 60-115 dB). RESULTS: Raters blinded to the fetuses' groups scored 65 pictures of fetal facial expressions based on the presence of 12 items (facial movements). Analyses of redundancy and usefulness excluded 5 items for being of low discrimination capacity (P>0.2). The final version of the pain assessment tool consisted of a total of 7 items: brow lowering/eyes squeezed shut/deepening of the nasolabial furrow/open lips/horizontal mouth stretch/vertical mouth stretch/neck deflection. Odd ratios for a facial expression to be detected in acute pain compared with control conditions ranged from 11 (neck deflection) to 1,400 (horizontal mouth stretch). Using the seven-item final tool, we showed that 5 is the cutoff value discriminating pain from nonpainful startle and rest. CONCLUSIONS: This study inaugurates the possibility to study pain responses during the intrauterine life, which may have implications for the postoperative management of pain after intrauterine surgical interventions.

Association between exposure to air pollution during intrauterine life and cephalic circumference of the newborn.

It has been observed that air pollution can affect newborn health due to the negative effects of pollutants on pregnancy development. However, few studies have evaluated the impact of maternal exposure to urban air pollution on head circumference (HC) at birth. Reduced head growth during pregnancy may be associated with neurocognitive deficits in childhood. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the association between maternal exposure to air pollution and HC at birth and to provide context with a systematic review to investigate this association. This was a prospective study of low-risk pregnant women living in São Paulo, Brazil. Exposure to pollutants, namely, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3), was measured during each trimester using passive personal samplers. We measured newborn HC until 24 h after birth. We used multiple linear regression models to evaluate the association between pollutants and HC while controlling for known determinants of pregnancy. To perform the systematic review, four different electronic databases were searched through November 2018: CENTRAL, EMBASE, LILACS, and MEDLINE. We selected longitudinal or transversal designs associating air pollution and HC at birth. Two reviewers evaluated the inclusion criteria and risk of bias and extracted data from the included papers. Thirteen studies were selected for the systematic review. We evaluated 391 patients, and we did not observe a significant association between air pollution and HC. Regarding the systematic review, 13 studies were selected for the systematic review, 8 studies showed an inverse association between maternal exposure to pollutants and HC, 4 showed no association, and one observed a direct association. In the city of São Paulo, maternal exposure to pollutants was not significantly associated with HC at birth. The systematic review suggested an inverse association between air pollution and HC at birth.

Kidney impairment in fetal growth restriction: three-dimensional evaluation of volume and vascularization.

OBJECTIVES: Renal development is impaired in fetal growth restriction (FGR). Renal size can be considered a surrogate of renal function in childhood, and could be impaired in that condition. Our aim was to evaluate the ratio of total renal volume, measured by three-dimensional ultrasound, to estimated fetal weight (TRV/EFW) among fetuses with and without growth restriction. Furthermore, we correlated TRV/EFW with fetal Doppler velocimetry and renal vascularization indexes and evaluated the association of renal volume and vascular parameters with adverse neonatal events in growth-restricted fetuses. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort, TRV and renal vascularization of growth-restricted and normal fetuses were evaluated by three-dimensional ultrasonography and VOCAL technique. Independent samples t-tests and Mann-Whitney test were used for comparisons between groups. Logistic regression model was applied to evaluate the association between renal characteristics and adverse neonatal events. RESULTS: Seventy-one growth-restricted fetuses were compared to 194 controls. The TRV/EFW was lower in the growth-restricted group (P < .001). In our sample, this ratio did not correlate with Doppler velocimetry parameters, renal vascular indexes or any adverse neonatal events. CONCLUSION: The TRV/EFW ratio is decreased in FGR. Further studies are needed to investigate the association of this ratio with long-term renal outcomes.

Family Conferences in Prenatal Palliative Care.

Background: Fetal malformations are diagnosed prenatally in nearly 3% of pregnancies, and ∼1.2% are major malformations. After prenatal diagnosis, it is imperative to consider families' values and to support their decision-making process. Prenatal palliative care is a growing field mainly based on family conferences. The prenatal care setting is unique and differs from postnatal and adult care. There are no descriptions of family conferences in prenatal palliative care. The descriptions of themes that emerge from the prenatal care conference charts may guide professionals in this delicate task, and help determine the causes of suffering and identify family values before the birth of the infant. Aim: To perform a content analysis of medical records of family conferences and to describe the main themes observed during prenatal palliative care follow-up after the diagnosis of a life-limiting fetal condition. Design: This is a retrospective study of medical records of family conferences from a perinatal palliative care group, the GAI group, between May 2015 and September 2016. Setting/Participants: Families with estimated perinatal mortality >50% and eligibility for follow-up at our tertiary fetal medicine center were enrolled. We included women who participated in at least one family conference with the GAI group and who had given birth at the clinic or delivered at another center and returned for the postnatal family conference. Results: Fifty women met the inclusion criteria. Five main themes and 18 categories emerged from the charts and are described in detail. A model of follow-up in prenatal palliative care is proposed based on the themes and categories identified. Conclusions: This analysis may guide health professionals who seek to better identify family needs and values and organize follow-up during prenatal palliative care.

Breaking Bad News: A Study on Formal Training in a High-Risk Obstetrics Setting.

Background: Breaking bad news is a frequent task in high-risk obstetrics clinics. Few studies have examined the role of training in improving such a difficult medical task. Aim: To evaluate the influence of a training program on the participants' perceptions of bad news communication at a high-risk obstetrics center. Design: This prospective study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Hospital das Clinicas, from March 2016 to May 2017. Setting/Participants: Maternal-fetal health specialists were invited to complete an institutional questionnaire based on the SPIKES protocol for communicating bad news before and after training. The training consisted of theoretical lectures and small group practice using role play. The questionnaire responses were compared using nonparametric tests to evaluate the differences in physicians' perceptions at the two timepoints. The questionnaire items were evaluated individually and in groups following the communication steps of the SPIKES protocol. Results: In total, 110 physicians were invited to participate. Ninety completed the pretraining questionnaire and 40 answered the post-training questionnaire. After training, there were significant improvements in knowing how to prepare the environment before delivering bad news (p = 0.010), feeling able to transmit bad news (p < 0.001), and to discuss the prognosis (p = 0.026), feeling capable of discussing ending the pregnancy (p = 0.003), and end-of-life issues (p = 0.007) and feeling confident about answering difficult questions (p = 0.004). The comparison of the grouped responses following the steps of the SPIKES protocol showed significant differences for "knowledge" (p < 0.001), "emotions," (p = 0.004) and "strategy and summary" (p = 0.002). Conclusion: The implementation of institutional training in breaking bad news changed the perception of the physicians in the communication setting.

On the feasibility of accessing acute pain-related facial expressions in the human fetus and its potential implications: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Although pain facial assessment is routinely performed in term and preterm newborns by the use of facial expression-based tools such as the Neonatal Facial Coding System, the assessment of pain during the intrauterine life has not been extensively explored. OBJECTIVE: Describe for the first time, an experimental model to assess and quantify responses due to acute pain in fetuses undergoing anaesthesia for intrauterine surgery recorded by high-resolution 4D ultrasound machines. METHODS/RESULTS-CASE REPORT: A 33-year-old pregnant woman had congenital left diaphragmatic hernia of poor prognosis diagnosed, and her fetus was treated by fetoscopic endotracheal occlusion. Later, during the removal of the fetal endotracheal balloon by ultrasound-guided puncture, we have recorded facial expressions of the foetus before and after the anaesthetic puncture by the use of 4D ultrasound recordings, which were presented to 3 blinded coders instructed to use the Neonatal Facial Coding System for acute pain facial coding. The procedure was safe and feasible. CONCLUSION: This is the first description of a recordable acute pain model in the human fetus by the use of a facial expression-based tool. The possibility to assess pain-related intrauterine behaviours would allow not only for the monitoring of the efficacy of anaesthetic procedures in the fetus but would also open the way to explore the evolution of pain-related facial responses during the fetal neurodevelopment. This method may pave the way for objective assessments of pain in fetuses, should it endure the steps of formal validation studies.

An unfavorable intrauterine environment may determine renal functional capacity in adulthood: a meta-analysis.

Since studies show that an unfavorable environment during intrauterine development predisposes individuals to several diseases in adulthood, our objective is to assess the relation between fetal growth restriction and chronic renal disease in adults. We searched four different electronic databases through November 2017: CENTRAL, EMBASE, LILACS and MEDLINE. We selected studies with longitudinal or transversal designs associating kidney function in adulthood with low birth weight. Two reviewers evaluated the inclusion criteria and the risk of bias and extracted data from the included papers. Thirteen studies were selected for the systematic review and meta-analysis. We observed increased risks of presenting end-stage renal disease (risk ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval: 1.17, 1.47), a lower glomerular filtration rate (ml/min) (mean difference 7.14; 95% confidence interval: -12.12, -2.16), microalbuminuria (risk ratio 1.40; 95% confidence interval: 1.28, 1.52) and a small increase in the albumin/creatinine ratio (mean difference 0.46; 95% confidence interval: 0.03, 0.90) in the low birth weight patients, compared with control group. These findings suggest that low birth weight is associated with renal dysfunction in adults.

Spontaneous prematurity in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a retrospective cohort study about prenatal predictive factors.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate possible predictive factors of spontaneous prematurity in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Inclusion criteria were presence of CDH; absence of fetoscopy; absence of karyotype abnormality; maximum of one major malformation associated with diaphragmatic hernia; ultrasound monitoring at the Obstetrics Clinic of Clinicas Hospital at the University of São Paulo School of Medicine, from January 2001 to October 2014. The data were obtained through the electronic records and ultrasound system of our fetal medicine service. The following variables were analyzed: maternal age, primiparity, associated maternal diseases, smoking, previous spontaneous preterm birth, fetal malformation associated with hernia, polyhydramnios, fetal growth restriction, presence of intrathoracic liver, invasive procedures performed, side of hernia and observed-to- expected lung to head ratio (o/e LHR). On individual analysis, variables were assessed using the Chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney test. A multiple logistic regression model was applied to select variables independently influencing the prediction of preterm delivery. A ROC curve was constructed with the significant variable, identifying the values with best sensitivity and specificity to be suggested for use in clinical practice. RESULTS: Eighty fetuses were evaluated, of which, 21 (26.25%) were premature. O/e LHR was the only factor associated with prematurity (p = 0.020). The ROC curve showed 93% sensitivity with 48.4% specificity for the cutoff of 40%. CONCLUSION: O/e LHR was the only predictor of prematurity in this sample.

An unfavorable intrauterine environment may determine renal functional capacity in adulthood: a meta-analysis

Since studies show that an unfavorable environment during intrauterine development predisposes individuals to several diseases in adulthood, our objective is to assess the relation between fetal growth restriction and chronic renal disease in adults. We searched four different electronic databases through November 2017: CENTRAL, EMBASE, LILACS and MEDLINE. We selected studies with longitudinal or transversal designs associating kidney function in adulthood with low birth weight. Two reviewers evaluated the inclusion criteria and the risk of bias and extracted data from the included papers. Thirteen studies were selected for the systematic review and meta-analysis. We observed increased risks of presenting end-stage renal disease (risk ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval: 1.17, 1.47), a lower glomerular filtration rate (ml/min) (mean difference 7.14; 95% confidence interval: -12.12, -2.16), microalbuminuria (risk ratio 1.40; 95% confidence interval: 1.28, 1.52) and a small increase in the albumin/creatinine ratio (mean difference 0.46; 95% confidence interval: 0.03, 0.90) in the low birth weight patients, compared with control group. These findings suggest that low birth weight is associated with renal dysfunction in adults.

Renal vascularization indexes and fetal hemodynamics in fetuses with growth restriction.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the correlation between the renal vascularization index (VI), the flow index (FI) and the vascularization and flow index (VFI) and placental and fetal hemodynamics in fetuses with growth restriction. METHOD: Bidimensional ultrasound and three-dimensional power Doppler with the VOCAL technique were used to determine the renal vascular indexes and fetal and placental hemodynamics in fetuses below the 10th percentile for fetal weight. Partial correlation analysis (controlled for renal depth and gestational age) was performed. The fetuses were divided into four groups according to their hemodynamic picture, and renal indexes were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Eighty-one fetuses were evaluated. VI, FI and VFI showed negative correlation with the ductus venosus pulsatility index. VI and VFI showed positive correlations with the amniotic fluid index. The group of fetuses with the worst hemodynamic picture (abnormal umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery and ductus venosus pulsatility indexes) showed significantly lower VI and VFI than the group with no changes in these pulsatility indexes. CONCLUSIONS: Renal vascularization indexes were inversely correlated with ductus venosus pulsatility indexes and were diminished in fetuses showing hemodynamic compromise. These changes might be related to postnatal renal impairment. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

When One Knows a Fetus Is Expected to Die: Palliative Care in the Context of Prenatal Diagnosis of Fetal Malformations.

BACKGROUND: Fetal malformations occur in 2% of gestations and are the fifth most common cause of neonatal death in the world. In many cases, fetal malformations result in neonatal death or long stay in intensive care facilities. Families that continue the pregnancy in such a situation need to make choices and cope with an overwhelming number of potential issues. Palliative care starting at the prenatal period is a growing field that allows the entire family to prepare for this difficult situation. OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review of published data on palliative care in the prenatal period. DESIGN: PubMed and the Cochrane Library were searched using the keywords ("perinatal" OR "prenatal" OR "fetal") AND "palliative care" and also ("perinatal" OR "prenatal" OR "fetal") AND "hospice." SETTING/SUBJECTS: Studies focusing on the long-term impact of prenatal palliative care published up to December 2015 were used. MEASUREMENTS: Quantitative and qualitative studies. RESULTS: In total, 541 studies were retrieved; 29 articles met the inclusion criteria. Studies were organized into different categories according to the design or main focus. The majority of studies retrieved were reflexives or presented a narrative proposal on palliative care started in the prenatal period (45%). Clinical studies comprised 17% of all articles found. No studies were found on the long-term impact of prenatal palliative care. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal palliative care is a growing field and an important supportive care measure that can help grieving parents and families who do not want to or cannot interrupt their pregnancy. More studies should be carried out, specifically concerning long-term impact of prenatal palliative care. Guidelines and training of health professionals must be developed so that more families can benefit from this type of care.

Short-Term Exposure to Urban Air Pollution and Influences on Placental Vascularization Indexes.

BACKGROUND: It has been widely demonstrated that air pollution can affect human health and that certain pollutant gases lead to adverse obstetric outcomes, such as preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the influence of individual maternal exposure to air pollution on placental volume and vascularization evaluated in the first trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study on low-risk pregnant women living in São Paulo, Brazil. The women carried passive personal NO2 and O3 monitors in the week preceding evaluation. We employed the virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) technique using three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound to evaluate placental volume and placental vascular indexes [vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), and vascularization flow index (VFI)]. We analyzed the influence of pollutant levels on log-transformed placental vascularization and volume using multiple regression models. RESULTS: We evaluated 229 patients. Increased NO2 levels had a significant negative association with log of VI (p = 0.020 and beta = -0.153) and VFI (p = 0.024 and beta = -0.151). NO2 and O3 had no influence on the log of placental volume or FI. CONCLUSIONS: NO2, an estimator of primary air pollutants, was significantly associated with diminished VI and VFI in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Reduced placental volume and flow in severe growth restricted fetuses.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate placental volume and vascular indices in pregnancies with severe fetal growth restriction and determine their correlations to normal reference ranges and Doppler velocimetry results of uterine and umbilical arteries. METHODS: Twenty-seven fetuses with estimated weights below the 3rd percentile for gestational age were evaluated. Placental volume and vascular indices, including vascularization, flow, and vascularization flow indices, were measured by three-dimensional ultrasound using a rotational technique and compared to a previously described nomogram. The observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for gestational age and observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for fetal weight were calculated. Placental parameters correlated with the Doppler velocimetry results of uterine and umbilical arteries. RESULTS: The mean uterine artery pulsatility index was negatively correlated with the observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for gestational age, vascularization index and vascularization flow index. The observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for gestational age and observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for fetal weight and vascularization index were significantly lower in the group with a bilateral protodiastolic notch. No placental parameter correlated with the umbilical artery pulsatility index. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancies complicated by severe fetal growth restriction are associated with reduced placental volume and vascularization. These findings are related to changes in uterine artery Doppler velocimetry. Future studies on managing severe fetal growth restriction should focus on combined results of placental three-dimensional ultrasound and Doppler studies of uterine arteries.

Reduced placental volume and flow in severe growth restricted fetuses

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate placental volume and vascular indices in pregnancies with severe fetal growth restriction and determine their correlations to normal reference ranges and Doppler velocimetry results of uterine and umbilical arteries. METHODS: Twenty-seven fetuses with estimated weights below the 3rd percentile for gestational age were evaluated. Placental volume and vascular indices, including vascularization, flow, and vascularization flow indices, were measured by three-dimensional ultrasound using a rotational technique and compared to a previously described nomogram. The observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for gestational age and observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for fetal weight were calculated. Placental parameters correlated with the Doppler velocimetry results of uterine and umbilical arteries. RESULTS: The mean uterine artery pulsatility index was negatively correlated with the observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for gestational age, vascularization index and vascularization flow index. The observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for gestational age and observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for fetal weight and vascularization index were significantly lower in the group with a bilateral protodiastolic notch. No placental parameter correlated with the umbilical artery pulsatility index. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancies complicated by severe fetal growth restriction are associated with reduced placental volume and vascularization. These findings are related to changes in uterine artery Doppler velocimetry. Future studies on managing severe fetal growth restriction should focus on combined results of placental three-dimensional ultrasound and Doppler studies of uterine arteries.

Associations of maternal personal exposure to air pollution on fetal weight and fetoplacental Doppler: A prospective cohort study.

We determined the influence of maternal air pollution exposure during each trimester of pregnancy on fetal and birth weight and fetoplacental hemodynamics. In total, 366 women with singleton pregnancies were prospectively followed in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) were measured during each trimester using passive personal samplers. We evaluated fetal weight and Doppler velocimetry data from the umbilical, middle cerebral, and uterine arteries in the 3rd trimester, and birth weight. Multivariate analysis was performed, controlling for known determinants of fetal weight. Exposure to higher levels of O3 during the 2nd trimester was associated with higher umbilical artery pulsatility indices (PIs) [p=0.013; beta=0.017: standard error (SE)=0.007]. Exposure to higher levels of O3 during the 3rd trimester was associated with lower umbilical artery PIs (p=0.011; beta=-0.021; SE=0.008). Our results suggest that in the environment of São Paulo, O3 may affects placental vascular resistance.