Placental MRI Predicts Fetal Oxygenation and Growth Rates in Sheep and Human Pregnancy

Dimitra Flouri*, Jack R.T. Darby, Stacey L. Holman, Steven K.S. Cho, Catherine G. Dimasi, Sunthara R. Perumal, Sebastien Ourselin, Rosalind Aughwane, Nada Mufti, Christopher K. Macgowan, Mike Seed, Anna L. David, Andrew Melbourne, Janna L. Morrison

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of fetal blood oxygen saturation (SO2 ) can transform the clinical management of high-risk pregnancies affected by fetal growth restriction (FGR). Here, a novel MRI method assesses the feasibility of identifying normally grown and FGR fetuses in sheep and is then applied to humans. MRI scans are performed in pregnant ewes at 110 and 140 days (term = 150d) gestation and in pregnant women at 28+3 ± 2+5 weeks to measure feto-placental SO2 . Birth weight is collected and, in sheep, fetal blood SO2 is measured with a blood gas analyzer (BGA). Fetal arterial SO2 measured by BGA predicts fetal birth weight in sheep and distinguishes between fetuses that are normally grown, small for gestational age, and FGR. MRI feto-placental SO2 in late gestation is related to fetal blood SO2 measured by BGA and body weight. In sheep, MRI feto-placental SO2 in mid-gestation is related to fetal SO2 later in gestation. MRI feto-placental SO2 distinguishes between normally grown and FGR fetuses, as well as distinguishing FGR fetuses with and without normal Doppler in humans. Thus, a multi-compartment placental MRI model detects low placental SO2 and distinguishes between small hypoxemic fetuses and normally grown fetuses.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2203738
Pages (from-to)e2203738
JournalAdvanced Science
Volume9
Issue number30
Early online date28 Aug 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Oct 2022

Keywords

  • fetal development
  • fetal growth restriction
  • fetal hypoxia
  • oxygenation
  • placental dysfunction
  • relaxometry
  • sheep

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