Role of first-trimester three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler of placental blood flow and 3D placental volume in early prediction of pre-eclampsia

Objective: To assess the efficacy of first-trimester three-dimensional (3D) placental volume as well as 3D power Doppler of placental vascular indices for early prediction of pre-eclampsia. Methods: The prospective cohort study included over 2019 women with a singleton pregnancy in their first trimester at 11–13+ weeks of pregnancy. All women were examined by 3D abdominal ultrasound, including Doppler techniques for the placental volume and placental vascular indices. Uterine artery Doppler indices were also assessed. All participants were cared for until delivery for assessment of pregnancy outcomes. Results: In all, 163 women developed pre-eclampsia while 1856 women remained normotensive. The women with pre-eclampsia had significantly lower placental volume (77.09 ml vs. 99.8 ml, p < 0.001), and placental vascular indices (vascularization index, flow index, and vascularization flow index were 7.41 vs. 9.89, 39.03 vs. 46.63, and 2.77 vs. 4.4, respectively, p < 0.001). In contrast, women with pre-eclampsia had significantly high mean uterine pulsatility index and resistance index (2.02 vs. 1.11, 0.83 vs. 0.64, respectively, p < 0.001) compared with the normotensive women. The placental vascular indices were highly sensitive, whereas the placental volume and the mean uterine pulsatility index and resistance index had higher specificity for the prediction of pre-eclampsia. Conclusion: First-trimester assessment through 3D placental volume and power Doppler of placental vascular indices, especially in combination with uterine artery Doppler assessment, revealed an increase in the accuracy of early detection of women at risk for developing pre-eclampsia.