Measurement of the placental SWV with ARFI imaging is a useful additional method for the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia and for determination of the disease severity.

ObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate placental stiffness measured by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography in pregnant women in the second trimester with a normal fetus versus those with structural anomalies and non-structural findings.Materials and MethodsForty pregnant women carrying a fetus with structural anomalies diagnosed sonographically at 18–28 weeks of gestation comprised the study group. The control group consisted of 34 healthy pregnant women with a sonographically normal fetus at a similar gestational age. Placental shear wave velocity (SWV) was measured by ARFI elastography and compared between the two groups. Structural anomalies and non-structural findings were scored based on sonographic markers. Placental stiffness measurements were compared among fetus anomaly categories. Doppler parameters of umbilical and uterine arteries were compared with placental SWV measurements.ResultsAll placental SWV measurements, including minimum SWV, maximum SWV, and mean SWV were significantly higher in the study group than the control group ([0.86 ± 0.2, 0.74 ± 0.1; p < 0.001], [1.89 ± 0.7, 1.59 ± 0.5; p = 0.04], and [1.26 ± 0.4, 1.09 ± 0.2; p = 0.01]), respectively.ConclusionPlacental stiffness evaluated by ARFI elastography during the second trimester in pregnant women with fetuses with congenital structural anomalies is higher than that of pregnant women with normal fetuses.

Our results demonstrated no association between inflammation and HG. Elucidation of the pathophysiology and complex interaction between various inflammatory processes in HG necessitates further trials on larger series.

According to our findings, MRCDs seem to increasing the maternal and neonatal morbidity even though they are not life-threatening.

Increased levels of vitamins B1 and B2 may indicate a need for increased energy metabolism at the fetus. So we believe that new studies are required, which will be supported by the placental analyses of the pyruvate and lactate levels in maternal blood at delivery and fetal cord blood in order to develop a better understanding on the fetal effects of energy metabolism.