Placental Localisation by USG as a Predictor of Preeclampsia Development
Pankhudi Srivastava
*
LLRM medical College and associated SVBP Hospital, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Vandana Dhama
LLRM medical College and associated SVBP Hospital, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objective: To find whether placental laterality as determined by ultrasound can be used as a predictor of the development of preeclampsia and to find its correlation with severity of preeclampsia, maternal and fetal outcomes.
Design: Prospective study
Setting: LLRM Medical college, Meerut, Antenatal clinic from October 2022 to March 2024.
Sample: A total of 344 low-risk singleton pregnant women.
Methods: At 18–24 weeks, an ultrasound was used to locate the placenta in the above mentioned women. Two groups of women were created: group A had a central placenta, while group B had a lateral placenta. The study's end point was the onset of preeclampsia according to the RCOG criteria.
Outcome: To analyse placental localisation as a predictor of preeclampsia development and its association with feto-maternal outcomes.
Results: Of the 344 pregnant women included in the study, 210 (Group A) had a central placenta and 134 (Group B) had a lateral placenta. Overall, 52 women developed preeclampsia, giving an incidence of 15.12%. Among those who developed preeclampsia, 16 (30.8%) had a central placenta, whereas 36 (69.2%) had a lateral placenta. This difference was found to be statistically highly significant (p < 0.01). When evaluated as a screening tool for predicting preeclampsia, placental laterality demonstrated a sensitivity of 69.23% and a specificity of 66.44%.
Conclusions: The placental laterality as assessed by ultrasonography at 18–24 weeks is a simple, reliable and cost effective predictive screening tool for the onset of preeclampsia.
Keywords: Pre-eclampsia, placental laterality, ultrasonography, predictor