Effects of uterine Doppler on midbrain growth and cortical development in late onset fetal growth restricted fetuses: a prospective cross-sectional study

Figures & data

Table 1. Baseline maternal and perinatal characteristics of pregnancies with normal and abnormal uterine artery (UtA) PI values.

Variable	UtA PI Normal N = 39	UtA PI abnormal N = 21	p*
Maternal age (years)	31 (27–34)	31 (27.5–36)	0.577
Pregestational BMI (kg/m^2)	24 (21–28)	23 (20.5–25.5)	0.147
Caucasian ethnicity N (%)	33 (84.6)	16 (76.2)	0.492
Nulliparous N (%)	24 (61.5)	15 (71.4)	0.572
GA at ultrasound (weeks)	32.9 (32.3–33.43)	33 (34.6–36.6)	0.361
HC centile	4 (3–8)	4 (3–7)	0.998
UA PI centile	93 (90–98)	94 (91–98)	0.223
MCA PI centile	3 (1–6)	2 (1–5)	0.591
CPR centile	2 (1–3)	2 (1–3)	0.994
UtA centile	67 (52–77)	98 (96–99)	0.0001
GA at delivery (weeks)	36.7 (35.6–37.3)	35.3 (34.6–36.9)	0.028
Emergency Cesarean Section N (%)	8 (20.5)	11 (52.4)	0.019
Birthweight (g)	2070 (1810–2290)	1780 (1625–2100)	0.014
Male gender N (%)	19 (48.7)	11 (52.5)	0.999
5-min Apgar score < 7	0 (0)	2 (9.5)	0.118
Neonatal admission to the special care unit n (%)	2 (5.1)	5 (23.8)	0.044

BMI: body mass index; SFA: small for gestational age; FGR: fetal growth restriction; GA: gestational age; HC: head cirv;UA umbilical artery; MCA: middle cerebral artery; PI: pulsatitilty index; CPR: cerebral placental ratio. *<Comparison performed using Mann–Whitney U test, Fisher’s exact or chi-square tests. Data are given as median (interquartile range) or number (%).

Figure 1. Violin plots showing distribution of corpus callosum and cerebellar vermis in growth restricted (FGR) fetuses with normal or abnormal uterine artery (UtA) PI. Circles represent individual points, horizontal lines indicate median (continuous), and interquartile range (IQR) (dotted). Comparison among groups was performed by Mann–Whitney U test.

Figure 2. Violin plots showing distribution of Sylvian fissure, parieto occipital fissure and calcarine in growth restricted (FGR) fetuses with normal or abnormal uterine artery (UtA PI). Circles represent individual points, horizontal lines indicate median (continuous), and interquartile range (IQR) (dotted). Comparison among groups was performed by Mann–Whitney U test.

Table 2. Neurosonographic findings in fetuses with normal and abnormal uterine artery (UtA) PI values.

Variables	UtA PI normal N = 39	UtA PI abnormal N = 21	p*
CC mm	35.90 (28.49–45.53)	25.31 (19.76–35.13)	0.0022
CC MoM	0.90 (0.69–1.14)	0.61 (0.49–0.89)	0.0020
CV mm	25.78 (18.19–29.35)	17.03 (14.07–24.16)	0.0067
CV MoM	1.13 (0.76–1.26)	0.74 (0.59–1.02)	0.0025
SF mm	10.58 (8.99–11.97)	7.44 (6.23–8.46)	0.0001
SF MoM	0.81 (0.69–0.93)	0.55 (0.47–0.65)	0.0001
POF mm	6.85 (6.35–8.14)	4.82 (3.46–7.75)	0.0184
POF MoM	0.79 (0.62–0.91)	0.55 (0.38–0.89)	0.0121
CF mm	4.157 (2.85–5.41)	2.33 (2.49–4.01)	0.0382
CF MoM	0.81 (0.56–1.01)	0.72 (0.48–0.76)	0.0198

CC: Corpus callosum; CV: cerebellar vermis; SF: sylvian fissure; POF: parietal occipital fissure; CF: calcarine fissure; MoM: multiple of medians. *Comparison performed using Mann–Whitney U test. Data are given as median (interquartile range).

Data availability statement

Data available from Authors on reasonable request.