Multi-modal functional MRI to explore placental function over gestation.

Magn Reson Med. 2018 Sep 21;:

Authors: Hutter J, Slator PJ, Jackson L, Gomes ADS, Ho A, Story L, O'Muircheartaigh J, Teixeira RPAG, Chappell LC, Alexander DC, Rutherford MA, Hajnal JV

Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate, visualize and quantify the physiology of the human placenta in several dimensions - functional, temporal over gestation, and spatial over the whole organ.
METHODS: Bespoke MRI techniques, combining a rich diffusion protocol, anatomical data and T2* mapping together with a multi-modal pipeline including motion correction and extracted quantitative features were developed and employed on pregnant women between 22 and 38 weeks gestational age including two pregnancies diagnosed with pre-eclampsia.
RESULTS: A multi-faceted assessment was demonstrated showing trends of increasing lacunarity, and decreasing T2* and diffusivity over gestation.
CONCLUSIONS: The obtained multi-modal acquisition and quantification shows promising opportunities for studying evolution, adaptation and compensation processes.

PMID: 30242899 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]