The Fetal Spleen in Low-Risk Pregnancies and prior to Preterm Birth: Observational Study of the Role of Anatomical and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Hall M, Uus A, Preston M, Suff N, Gibbons D, Rutherford M, Shennan A, Hutter J, Story L (2024)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2024
Journal
Book Volume: 51
Pages Range: 419-431
Journal Issue: 5
DOI: 10.1159/000539607
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous preterm birth complicates ∼7% of pregnancies and causes morbidity and mortality. Although infection is a common etiology, our understanding of the fetal immune system in vivo is limited. This study aimed to utilize T2-weighted imaging and T2* relaxometry (which is a proxy of tissue oxygenation) of the fetal spleen in uncomplicated pregnancies and in fetuses that were subsequently delivered spontaneously prior to 32 weeks. METHODS: Women underwent imaging including T2-weighted fetal body images and multi-eco gradient echo single-shot echo planar sequences on a Phillips Achieva 3T system. Previously described postprocessing techniques were applied to obtain T2- and T2*-weighted imaging of the fetal spleen and T2-weighted fetal body volumes. RESULTS: Among 55 women with uncomplicated pregnancies, an increase in fetal splenic volume, splenic:body volume, and a decrease in splenic T2* signal intensity was demonstrated across gestation. Compared to controls, fetuses who were subsequently delivered prior to 32 weeks' gestation (n = 19) had a larger spleen when controlled for the overall size of the fetus (p = 0.027), but T2* was consistent (p = 0.76). CONCLUSION: These findings provide evidence of a replicable method of studying the fetal immune system and give novel results on the impact of impending preterm birth on the spleen. While T2* decreases prior to preterm birth in other organs, preservation demonstrated here suggests preferential sparing of the spleen.
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APA:
Hall, M., Uus, A., Preston, M., Suff, N., Gibbons, D., Rutherford, M.,... Story, L. (2024). The Fetal Spleen in Low-Risk Pregnancies and prior to Preterm Birth: Observational Study of the Role of Anatomical and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, 51(5), 419-431. https://doi.org/10.1159/000539607
MLA:
Hall, Megan, et al. "The Fetal Spleen in Low-Risk Pregnancies and prior to Preterm Birth: Observational Study of the Role of Anatomical and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging." Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy 51.5 (2024): 419-431.
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