Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and value of measuring early placental echogenicity to predict fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
Methods: This is a single center, retrospective cohort study. Early ultrasound examination (6 + o to 8 + 6 weeks of gestation in singleton pregnancies) was used to measure placental dimensions and placental echogenicity. A ratio between placental echogenicity and myometrial echogenicity (PE/ME-ratio) was calculated for each patient. Study population was assigned to either the IUGR group or the control group based on clinical data.
Results: 184 eligible pregnancies were analysed. 49 patients were included in our study. Of those, 9 (18.37%) cases were affected by IUGR and 40 (81.63%) were controls. Measuring the placental echogenicity was feasible in all cases. IUGR neonates had a significant lower placental echogenicity (1.20 (± 0.24) vs. 1.64 (± 0.60), p = 0.033), but no significant differences in the other placental outcomes were observed.
Conclusion: Our results showed that measuring placental echogenicity is feasible in the early first trimester and demonstrated a significantly lower placental echogenicity in fetuses with subsequent IUGR. Further prospective studies are needed to validate those results.
Keywords: IUGR; Intrauterine growth restriction; Placenta; Placental echogenicity; Placental insufficiency.