Objective: To compare the fetal thymic thoracic ratio in preeclamptic pregnant women and healthy pregnant women.
Method: Fetal thymic thoracic ratio was evaluated in 240 pregnant women in the third trimester. Patients were examined in two groups. They included 120 preeclamptic pregnant women (study group) women and 120 healthy pregnant women (control group).
Results: The fetal thymic thoracic ratio was found to be statistically significantly lower in preeclamptic cases compared to that in the control group (p = .001). When the fetal thymic thoracic ratio was evaluated between the mild preeclampsia group (0.399 (0.388-0.413)), severe preeclampsia group (0.385 (0.350-0.394)), and the control group (0.43 (0.324-0.462)), it was found statistically significant differences between the groups (p = .001).
Conclusion: The fetal thymic thoracic ratio decreased in preeclamptic pregnant women and this decrease was more pronounced in the severe preeclampsia group. The measurement of fetal thymic thoracic ratio was seen to be beneficial in determining the severity of the disease in preeclamptic pregnant women.
Keywords: Fetus; preeclampsia; thymic-thoracic ratio; ultrasound.