Results
Title

R<sub>1</sub> and R<sub>2</sub>* changes in the human placenta in response to maternal oxygen challenge.

Authors

Huen, Isaac; Morris, David M.; Wright, Caroline; Parker, Geoff J. M.; Sibley, Colin P.; Johnstone, Edward D.; Naish, Josephine H.

Abstract

Purpose Pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction are sometimes thought to be caused by placental abnormalities associated with reduced oxygenation. Oxygen-enhanced MRI ( R1 contrast) and BOLD MRI ( R2* contrast) have the potential to noninvasively investigate this oxygen environment at a range of gestational ages. Methods Scanning was carried out at 1.5 T under maternal air and oxygen breathing in a single placental slice in 14 healthy pregnant subjects of gestational ages 21-37 weeks. We report R1 changes using a respiratory-triggered inversion recovery-turbo spin-echo sequence, which is sensitive to changes in PO2, and R2* changes using a breathhold multiple gradient-recalled echo sequence sensitive to changes in oxygen saturation. Results Significant R1 increases ( P 2* decreases ( P 1 decreased with gestational age ( P 2* change was observed. Conclusion The results demonstrate the feasibility of non-invasive investigation of placental oxygenation using MRI and the sensitivity of R1 oxygen-enhanced MRI to gestational age. The techniques have the potential to provide unique noninvasive biomarkers in compromised pregnancies. Magn Reson Med 70:1427-1433, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Publication

Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 2013, Vol 70, Issue 5, p1427

ISSN

0740-3194

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1002/mrm.24581