Analysis of Placental Vascularization by Means of 3D Power Doppler in Women Pregnant Following Oocyte Donation

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the differences in placental perfusion in pregnancies following oocyte donation compared to spontaneous pregnancies. Participants and Methods: A total of 33 patients who became pregnant after oocyte donation are studied and compared to 42 spontaneously pregnant participants. A 3-dimensional Power Doppler is used to obtain 3 placental volumes. Of each volume, 3 portions are analyzed in the form of a spherical ‘‘placental biopsy.’’ Four vascularization rates are applied, using the virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) method: grey index (GI), vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), and vascularization-flow index (VFI). Results: Vascular alterations are demonstrated, manifested by a lower IG and a significantly higher IV in the group of spontaneous pregnancies (GI P = .001; (VI) P = .039) and is almost statistically significant in comparison to the IVF (P = .051). Conclusions: Placental perfusion in pregnancies obtained following oocyte donation is deficient in comparison to spontaneous pregnancies.

Keywords

Oocyte donation recipient placental vascularization 3D Power Doppler

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