Three-dimensional ultrasound measurement of the placental volume and vascularization in the first trimester: correlation with crown–rump length, biochemical placenta parameters and uterine artery doppler

The aim of our study was to evaluate the correlation between placental volume (PV), placental vascularisation and such placental functional indices as PAPP-A, free BHCG and uterine artery (UtA) Doppler velocimetry in the first trimester of pregnancy and therefore to assess whether placental volume PV can be used as independent or additional measurement for PE and IUGR prediction. 74 women undergoing first trimester screening were prospectively assessed using three-dimensional ultrasound in order to measure PV and three‐dimensional power Doppler indices: vascularity index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularity flow index (VFI) using the VOCAL software (Voluson E8, GE). The off‐line analysis was performed by 4D View software and PV was calculated using VOCAL option (30°). Placental quotient (PQ) was calculated by dividing PV by the fetal crown–rump length (CRL). Spearman’s correlation coefficient (ρ) between PV and PAPP-A, free BHCG, UtA mPI were calculated. In addition, PQ correlation with PAPP-A, free BHCG, UtA mPI was assessed. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean placental volume was 68.31 (± 31) mm3. There was no correlation between placental volume and PAPP-A ( ρ = 0.183, P = 0.182), free BHCG (ρ = 0.109, P = 0.427) UtA mPI (ρ = 0.016, P = 0.901) nor with other maternal characteristics. No correlation between PQ and PAPP-A (ρ = 0.208, P = 0.127), free BHCG (ρ = 0.138, P = 0.316), or UtA mPI (ρ = 0.116, P = 0.901), were found. Our results suggest that there is no correlation between placental volume, first trimester biochemical markers and uterine artery velocimetry. The limitation of study was a small number of enrolled patients and therefore results were statistically insignificant.