Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2017; 65(S 02): S111-S142
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1599046
DGPK Poster Presentations
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
DGPK: e-Poster: Miscellaneous
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Congenital Heart Disease and the Placenta: Preliminary Results from a Fetal MRI Program

E. Mlczoch
1   Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
G. Gruber
2   Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
S. Dekan
3   Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
I. Michel-Behnke
4   Paediatric Heart Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
C. Worda
5   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
U. Salzer-Muhar
4   Paediatric Heart Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
D. Prayer
6   Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
G. Kasprian
6   Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
02 February 2017 (online)

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Objective: Little is known about the role of the placenta in presence of congenital heart disease (CHD). This fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study aimed to assess the frequency of placental abnormalities in fetuses with CHD.

Methods: 1.5 tesla MRI data of 245 fetuses (aged 18–35 gestational weeks [GW]) with CHD were retrospectively reviewed. The placenta was evaluated on T1, T2, echoplanar (b = 0) and diffusion weighted (b = 700) sequences. MRI-based Grannum stages served as reference for placental signal characteristics.

Results: Fetuses with CHD show higher Grannum stages than expected on T1 weighted images in 23% (57/245), T2-w images in 31% (75/245) and echoplanar sequences in 12% (30/245). A thickened edematous placenta was noted in 6%. Placental hemorrhages were found in 6% (15/245) and infarction in 2% (5/245).

Conclusion: Fetal MRI detects placental abnormalities in up to 1/3 of CHD fetuses. Placental pathology may aggravate the neurodevelopmental consequences of CHD and may be considered as potential therapeutic target.