Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38956748›Full record

Observational studyBJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology2024

Placental multimodal MRI prior to spontaneous preterm birth <32 weeks' gestation: An observational study.

Megan Hall, Natalie Suff, Paddy Slator, Mary Rutherford, Andrew Shennan, Jana Hutter, Lisa Story

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Megan HallCentre for the Developing Brain, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2756-6365
Natalie SuffDepartment of Women and Children's Health, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London, UK.
Paddy SlatorCardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Mary RutherfordCentre for the Developing Brain, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London, UK.
Andrew ShennanDepartment of Women and Children's Health, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London, UK.
Jana HutterCentre for the Developing Brain, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3476-3500
Lisa StoryCentre for the Developing Brain, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9328-9592

Funding

Structure and function of the placenta from implantation to delivery: a next generation MRI approachU01HD087202 · NICHD · KING'S COLLEGE LONDON · PI ALEXANDER, DANIEL, ALJABAR, PAUL · 2015 to 2015
$3.2M
King's College LondonNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre based at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustNational Institute for health Research 301664National Institute of Health (NIH) Human Placenta Project 1U01HD087202-01NICHD NIH HHS U01 HD087202UKRI, FLF MR/T018119/1Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Medical Engineering WT203148/Z/16/ZWellcome TrustWellcome Trust, Sir Henry Wellcome Fellowship 201374/Z/16/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo utilise combined diffusion-relaxation MRI techniques to interrogate antenatal changes in the placenta prior to extreme preterm birth among both women with PPROM and membranes intact, and compare this to a control group who subsequently delivered at term.

designObservational study.

settingTertiary Obstetric Unit, London, UK. POPULATION: Cases: pregnant women who subsequently spontaneously delivered a singleton pregnancy prior to 32 weeks' gestation without any other obstetric complications. CONTROLS: pregnant women who delivered an uncomplicated pregnancy at term.

methodsAll women consented to an MRI examination. A combined diffusion-relaxation MRI of the placenta was undertaken and analysed using fractional anisotropy, a combined T2*-apparent diffusion coefficient model and a combined T2*-intravoxel incoherent motion model, in order to provide a detailed placental phenotype associated with preterm birth. Subgroup analyses based on whether women in the case group had PPROM or intact membranes at time of scan, and on latency to delivery were performed.

main outcome measuresFractional anisotropy, apparent diffusion coefficients and T2* placental values, from two models including a combined T2*-IVIM model separating fast- and slow-flowing (perfusing and diffusing) compartments.

resultsThis study included 23 women who delivered preterm and 52 women who delivered at term. Placental T2* was lower in the T2*-apparent diffusion coefficient model (p < 0.001) and in the fast- and slow-flowing compartments (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001) of the T2*-IVIM model. This reached a higher level of significance in the preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes group than in the membranes intact group. There was a reduced perfusion fraction among the cases with impending delivery.

conclusionsPlacental diffusion-relaxation reveals significant changes in the placenta prior to preterm birth with greater effect noted in cases of preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes. Application of this technique may allow clinically valuable interrogation of histopathological changes before preterm birth. In turn, this could facilitate more accurate antenatal prediction of preterm chorioamnionitis and so aid decisions around the safest time of delivery. Furthermore, this technique provides a research tool to improve understanding of the pathological mechanisms associated with preterm birth in vivo.

Indexed as

PlacentaPremature BirthPremature Rupture of Fetal MembranesAdultCase-Control StudiesDiffusion Magnetic Resonance ImagingFemaleGestational AgeHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingPregnancychorioamnionitisdiffusion imagingplacental MRIPPROMpreterm birth

Identifiers

PMID38956748
PMCPMC11801328

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.