No abstract

The randomized controlled trials on umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry show major differences regarding study design and technical and clinical issues and, therefore, they should not be pooled in a simple meta-analysis. By stratification it was found that only in pregnancies with suspected intrauterine growth restriction and/or hypertensive disease of pregnancy will the use of umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry reduce the number of perinatal deaths and unnecessary obstetric interventions.

ObjectiveChanges in blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal are closely related to changes in fetal oxygenation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the changes in human fetal oxygenation during maternal hyperoxia by using the non-invasive BOLD MRI technique.Method Eight healthy pregnant women in gestational week 28 to 34 were included. With the use of a facial oxygen mask, we induced maternal hyperoxia and measured changes in the BOLD MRI signal of selected fetal organs.Results In a number of fetal organs, the BOLD MRI signal increased significantly (P < 0.01) during maternal hyperoxia (mean change in % AE SEM): liver (14.3 AE 3.7%), spleen (15.2 AE 3.5%) and kidney (6.2 AE 1.8%) as well as the placenta (6.5 AE 1.6%). In the fetal brain, however, the BOLD MRI signal remained constant (0.3 AE 0.2%). ConclusionDuring maternal hyperoxia, we demonstrated an increased oxygenation in a number of human fetal organs by using the non-invasive BOLD technique. The oxygenation of the fetal brain remained constant, thus a 'reversed' brain sparing mechanism could be considered in healthy fetuses subjected to hyperoxia.

Objectives To investigate changes in human placental oxygenation during maternal hyperoxia using noninvasive blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods ( BOLD mat , 5.4 ± 3.5%).

In high-risk third-trimester pregnancies, Doppler velocity waveforms of the uterine arteries can be evaluated using the uterine artery score disregarding the placental location. The uterine artery score possesses a high predictive value regarding adverse perinatal outcome.