Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology最新文献

Objectives: To examine the predictive performance of the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) competing-risks model for the first-trimester prediction of a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonate in a large, independent, unselected European cohort and to compare the competing-risks algorithm with previously published logistic-regression models.

Methods: This was a retrospective, non-interventional, multicenter cohort study including 35 170 women with a singleton pregnancy who underwent a first-trimester ultrasound assessment between 11 + 0 and 13 + 6 weeks' gestation. We used the default FMF competing-risks model for the prediction of SGA combining maternal factors, uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI), pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and placental growth factor (PlGF) to obtain risks for different cut-offs of birth-weight percentile and gestational age at delivery. We examined the predictive performance in terms of discrimination and calibration and compared it with the published data on the model's development population and with published logistic-regression equations.

Results: At a 10% false-positive rate, maternal factors and UtA-PI predicted 42.2% and 51.5% of SGA < 10^th percentile delivered < 37 weeks and < 32 weeks, respectively. The respective values for SGA < 3^rd percentile were 44.7% and 51.7%. Also at a 10% false-positive rate, maternal factors, UtA-PI and PAPP-A predicted 42.2% and 51.5% of SGA < 10^th percentile delivered < 37 weeks and < 32 weeks, respectively. The respective values for SGA < 3^rd percentile were 46.2% and 51.7%. At a 10% false-positive rate, maternal factors, UtA-PI, PAPP-A and PlGF predicted 47.6% and 66.7% of SGA < 10^th percentile delivered < 37 weeks and < 32 weeks, respectively. The respective values for SGA < 3^rd percentile were 50.0% and 69.0%. These data were similar to those reported in the original model's development study and substantially better than those calculated using pre-existing logistic-regression models (McNemar's test, P < 0.001). The FMF competing-risks model was well calibrated.

Conclusions: The FMF competing-risks model for the first-trimester prediction of SGA is reproducible in an independent, unselected low-risk cohort and superior to logistic-regression approaches. © 2025 The Author(s). Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Objective: To stratify pregnancy care based on the estimated risk of pre-eclampsia (PE) from screening at 19-24 weeks' gestation by combinations of maternal risk factors, estimated fetal weight (EFW), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI).

Methods: The data for this study were derived from a prospective non-interventional study in 134 443 women with a singleton pregnancy attending for a routine ultrasound scan at 19 + 0 to 23 + 6 weeks' gestation in two UK maternity hospitals. The visit included recording of maternal demographic characteristics and medical history, sonographic EFW and measurement of MAP and UtA-PI. The competing-risks model was used to estimate the individual patient-specific risk of delivery with PE at < 28, < 32 and < 36 weeks' gestation. Receiver-operating-characteristics curves were constructed for screen-positive rates (SPRs) at different detection rates of delivery with PE at < 28, < 32 and < 36 weeks' gestation for the combinations of maternal risk factors, EFW and MAP, and of maternal risk factors, EFW, MAP and UtA-PI. Different risk cut-offs were used with the intention of detecting about 80%, 85% and 90% of cases of delivery with PE at < 28, < 32 and < 36 weeks' gestation. Calibration for risk of delivery with PE at < 28, < 32 and < 36 weeks' gestation was assessed by plotting the observed incidence of PE against the predicted incidence of PE.

Results: The study population contained 4335 (3.2%) women that subsequently developed PE, including 64 (0.05%) that delivered with PE at < 28 weeks' gestation, 209 (0.2%) that delivered with PE at < 32 weeks and 655 (0.5%) that delivered with PE at < 36 weeks. If the objective of screening was to identify about 90% of cases of delivery with PE at < 28, < 32 and < 36 weeks and the method of screening was a combination of maternal risk factors, EFW and MAP, the respective SPRs would be 11.0%, 18.3% and 38.8%. If the method of screening also included UtA-PI, the respective SPRs would be 2.6%, 3.8% and 23.6%. If the objective of screening was to identify about 80% of cases of delivery with PE at < 28, < 32 and < 36 weeks and the method of screening was a combination of maternal risk factors, EFW and MAP, the respective SPRs would be 5.9%, 9.7% and 21.9%. If the method of screening also included UtA-PI, the respective SPRs would be 1.0%, 2.1% and 11.7%. The calibration plots demonstrated good agreement between the estimated risk and observed incidence of PE.

Conclusions: All women should be offered assessment of risk for PE at 11-13 weeks, to help identify those requiring aspirin prophylaxis to reduce the rate of preterm PE, and at 35-37 weeks, to determine the optimal timing of birth to reduce the rate of term PE. Assessment of risk for PE at mid-gestation can be used to identify the subgroups that require additional monitoring at 24-35, 28-35 and 32-35 weeks'

Objective: Fetal echocardiography (FE) is an indication-driven examination for pregnant women with a fetus at high risk for congenital heart disease (CHD). Several familial, maternal and fetal factors are reported to increase the risk of CHD. The aim of this study was to highlight the existing differences in recommended indications for FE among recently published guidelines and consensuses of experts.

Methods: Guidelines and expert consensuses published from January 2008 to October 2023 were identified through a systematic literature search. FE guidelines and consensus statements were excluded if not written in the English language and if indications for FE were not reported. All familial, maternal and fetal risk factors for CHD reported in the consensuses and guidelines were listed and comparisons were made between documents. The agreement or disagreement for each risk factor between guidelines and consensuses was classified as: complete agreement (all analyzed documents reported the same indication); partial agreement (all documents considered a risk factor as an indication, but with inconsistency in its definition); or complete disagreement (inconsistency between documents for the considered risk factor as an indication).

Results: Six guidelines and expert consensuses that met the inclusion criteria were identified. Overall, a total of 17 risk factors were identified as an indication for FE. Complete agreement was reached for 3/17 (17.6%) risk factors, all of which are fetal risk factors (suspected CHD at the anomaly scan, presence of major fetal extracardiac abnormality and non-immune hydrops fetalis). Partial agreement was recorded for 8/17 (47.1%) risk factors (family history of CHD, increased nuchal translucency, multiple gestation, maternal diabetes mellitus, maternal phenylketonuria, maternal infection, maternal autoimmune disease and autoantibody positivity, and teratogen exposure). Complete disagreement was recorded for 6/17 (35.3%) risk factors (inherited genetic disease associated with CHD, fetal genetic anomaly, suspected abnormality of heart rate or rhythm, first-trimester sonographic markers of CHD, abnormality of umbilical cord and venous system, and use of assisted reproductive technology).

Conclusions: Areas of controversy regarding which CHD risk factors warrant FE were greater in quantity than were the areas of consensus. An internationally standardized agreement would be valuable for physicians and guideline developers. For many risk factors, further evidence is needed to justify their use as an indication for FE. © 2025 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Objective: To produce reference ranges and Z-scores for corpus callosal (CC) length in the fetus, based on transvaginal three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound imaging.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional multicenter retrospective study based on 3D volume dataset acquisitions of the fetal CC between the 15^th and 37^th weeks of gestation. Only volume datasets acquired transvaginally through the anterior fontanelle were selected. After plane alignment on multiplanar imaging, the length of the CC was measured edge-to-edge on magnified images. Intra- and interobserver variability were assessed and the related intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) calculated. Biometric charts to assess the reference values for fetal CC were obtained using the method proposed by Altman in 1993.

Results: The 13 participating centers provided valid data for 2131 patients. Excellent agreement was observed for both intra- and interobserver analysis, with an ICC range of 0.98-1.00. A quadratic model was used for construction of the reference charts, modified with the insertion of cubic spline coefficients with a single knot at 18 gestational weeks, to recover an apparent lack of fit at lower gestational ages. Centile reference values and the corresponding Z-scores were produced for CC length between 15 and 37 gestational weeks.

Conclusions: This multicenter study presents growth charts for the fetal CC, addressing the critical methodological weaknesses of several previous studies. An even distribution of cases across all gestational weeks, robust statistical methodology and a standardized, high-resolution transvaginal neurosonographic technique represent key factors supporting the reliability of the biometric curves presented here. © 2025 The Author(s). Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.