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First-Trimester Fetal Hepatic Artery Examination for Adverse Outcome Prediction
Bartosz Czuba1, Piotr Tousty2, Wojciech Cnota1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Silesia, 41-703 Ruda Slaska, Poland.
Objective:
To assess whether there are differences in first-trimester fetal hepatic artery flows depending on pregnancy outcomes.
Methods:
The prospective study conducted in 2012-2020 included 1841 fetuses from singleton pregnancies assessed during the routine first-trimester ultrasound examination (between 11- and 14-weeks' gestation). Also, each fetus was examined to determine their hepatic artery flows by measuring the artery's pulsatility index (HA-PI) and peak systolic velocity (HA-PSV).
Results:
The fetuses that were classified as belonging to the adverse pregnancy outcome group (those with karyotype abnormalities and congenital heart defects) were characterized by a significantly lower HA-PI and higher HA-PSV compared to normal outcome fetuses.
Conclusion:
Hepatic artery flow assessment proved to be a very useful tool in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes, in particular karyotype abnormalities and congenital heart defects.
