Aim: This study assesses the value of intraplacental vascularization indices, determined by three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound, in the evaluation of placental circulation. A prospective study has been conducted on two groups of pregnant women. Group I included pregnant women with a normal evolution of the pregnancy, whereas group II consisted of pregnant women with preeclampsia. The subjects were assessed by ultrasound between the 28th and 38th week of amenorrhea. Intraplacental vascularization was studied by 3D and Doppler ultrasound. Intraplacental vascularization indices were calculated using the VOCAL program, whereas statistical processing was completed using descriptive and comparative statistical methods.
Results: The values of the three intraplacental vascularization indices were lower in the group of pregnancies with preeclampsia compared with the group with normal pregnancies. In normal pregnancies, the evolution of umbilical resistivity index (RI) values was statistically proven to be significantly correlated with the values of intraplacental vascularization indices. In the case of pathological pregnancies, RI values could be maintained within normal limits, whereas vascularization, flow, and vascularization-flow index values decreased significantly compared with the group of normal pregnancies.
Conclusions: The determination of intraplacental vascularization indices can play an important role in the monitoring of placental circulation in pregnancies with a normal evolution and those with preeclampsia.