Our objective was to evaluate the development of placental vascularization in normal gestation by using Doppler superb microvascular imaging (SMI). The fetal and maternal parameters of 20 pregnant women without pathology were evaluated at weeks 12, 16, 20-22, 24-26, 28-30, 32-34, 36-38 and 40-42. Doppler SMI was used to evaluate the placental vascularization (pulsatile index and peak systolic velocity) of the primary, secondary and tertiary (third) villi, and qualitative placental descriptions and anatomic-pathologic studies of these placentas were performed. The number of cotyledons identified by Doppler SMI increased from two between weeks 16 and 18 to 24 between weeks 28 and 38. The secondary and tertiary villi began developing at 20 wk of gestation. The pulsatile index of the primary villi remained constant (0.8-0.9 in all pregnancies). The pulsatile index of the secondary and tertiary villi increased from 1.1 to 1.53 and from 1.4 to 1.68, respectively. The peak systolic velocity underwent a significant increase throughout gestation in the secondary and tertiary villi (9.2 to 34.9 cm/s and 7.5 to 52.9 cm/s, respectively). We evaluated the development of placental microvascularization using Doppler SMI in pregnancies without pathology and describe normal placental Doppler SMI findings.
Keywords: Doppler SMI (superb microvascular imaging); IUGR (intra-uterine growth restriction); Placental vascularization; Ultrasound.
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