Fetal left brachiocephalic vein diameters in normal and growth restricted fetuses
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Didem Kaymak
,
Verda Alpay
,
Ebru Alıcı Davutoğlu
,
Melike Makul
and
Riza Madazlı
Abstract
Objectives
To develop a nomogram for fetal left brachiocephalic vein (LBCV) diameters during a healthy pregnancy and to assess LBCV values in fetuses with fetal growth restriction (FGR).
Methods
This prospective observational study included 31 FGR pregnancies and 438 low-risk pregnancies. The low-risk group was used to determine the 5th, mean, and 95th percentiles for the LBCV between 12 and 39 weeks of gestation based on gestational age. On growth charts, LBCV measurements of FGR fetuses were displayed, and those above the gestational age 95th percentile were considered wide vein. Cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) and umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and ductus venosus (DV) Doppler parameters were evaluated in FGR fetuses.
Results
LBCV diameter increased significantly with advancing gestational age. The LBCV diameters were above the 95th percentile in 23 of the 31 FGR fetuses (74.2%). All fetuses (15/15, 100%) with early-onset (EO)-FGR and 8 fetuses (8/16, 50%) with the late-onset (LO)-FGR had LBCV values above the 95th percentile (p<0.01). UA-PI was significantly higher and MCA-PI and CPR were significantly lower in LO-FGR fetuses with LBCV diameters above the 95th percentile (p<0.05).
Conclusions
LBCV diameters of fetuses with FGR were significantly wider than the normal population. In the LO-FGR group, there was a good correlation between LBCV diameter and CPR.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Author contributions: D.K, conceptualization, methodology, data collection, data analysis, writing; V.A and E.AD, data collection, data analysis; M.M, data collection; R.M, methodology, data analysis, writing, supervision, review and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
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Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from each participant included in this study.
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Ethical approval: The Human Research Committee of the Research Institute approved the study protocol. (Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty- E-528-25153-604.01.01–364555).
References
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Reviews
- Disquiet concerning cesarean birth
- Prenatal care and pregnancy outcome among incarcerated pregnant individuals in the United States: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Corner of Academy
- Does COVID-19 infection acquired in different pregnancy trimester influence placental pathology?
- Original Articles – Obstetrics
- Did the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic impact the cesarean delivery rate? A retrospective cohort study at a primary care center in Switzerland
- Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection
- Hidden in plain sight in the delivery room – the Apgar score is biased
- Comparison of phase rectified signal averaging and short term variation in predicting perinatal outcome in early onset fetal growth restriction
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- Effect of third trimester maternal vitamin D levels on placental weight to birth weight ratio in uncomplicated pregnancies
- One-third of patients with eclampsia at term do not have an abnormal angiogenic profile
- Chorioangioma: a single tertiary care center retrospective study
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- Original Articles – Fetus
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- Functional assessment of atrial wall excursion and foramen ovale flap tracings in 3rd trimester as predictor of short-term hemodynamic stability in congenital heart defects fetuses
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- Pregnancy associated plasma protein-A for the prediction of small for gestational age
- Reply to: Pregnancy associated plasma protein-A for the prediction of small for gestational age
