Effects of maternal cigarette smoking on placental volume and vascularization measured by 3-dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography at 11+0 to 13+6 weeks of gestation
Received 6 July 2008; received in revised form 24 August 2008; accepted 7 October 2008. published online 15 December 2008.
Objective
We sought to establish the effect of maternal smoking on placental volume and vascularization in early gestation.
Study Design
Three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography of the placenta was performed at 11+0 to 13+6 weeks in 80 pregnancies categorized according to cigarette consumption: group A never smoked, B smoking < 10 cigarettes/day, C smoking 10-20 cigarettes/day, and D smoking > 20 cigarettes/day. Using a standardized setting, placental volume and vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), and vascularization flow index (VFI) were calculated.
Results
No differences were found in placental volume among groups. In groups C and D lower values were found for VI (group C: t = 4.52, P = .0002; group D: t = 3.72, P = .0014), FI (group C: t = 5.06, P = .0001; group D: t = 4.59, P = .0002), and VFI (group C: t = 3.49, P = .0024; group D: t = 2.88, P = .0095). Placental vascular indices were significantly related to birthweight (VI r = 0.563, FI r = 0.580, VFI r = 0.601; P < .001).
Conclusion
Maternal smoking is associated with altered 3-dimensional placental Doppler indices and these changes are related to birth weight.
aFetal Medicine Center Genoma, Ospedale G. B. Grassi, Rome, Italy
bDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Ospedale G. B. Grassi, Rome, Italy
cDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ospedale G. B. Grassi, Rome, Italy
Reprints: Giuseppe Rizzo, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università di Roma “Tor Vergata,” Ospedale “Fatebenefratelli S. Giovanni Calabita,” Isola Tiberina 89, 00186 Rome, Italy
Cite this article as: Rizzo G, Capponi A, Pietrolucci ME, Arduini D. Effects of maternal cigarette smoking on placental volume and vascularization measured by 3-dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography at 11+0 to 13+6 weeks of gestation. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;200:415.e1-415.e5.
ABSTRACT
Effects of maternal cigarette smoking on placental volume and vascularization measured by 3-dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography at 11+0 to 13+6 weeks of gestation