Relationship Between First Trimester Placental Thickness and Perinatal Prognosis: a Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to investigate the correlation between first-trimester placental thickness and perinatal prognosis. Material and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at Siirt University Faculty of Medicine from March 2022 to March 2023 of 365 pregnant women in their first trimester (11-14 weeks of gestation). Placental volume was measured using two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound, and estimated placental volume (EPV) was calculated using Merwin's EPV Calculator app. The patients were followed until delivery, and outcomes such as gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery, fetal weight, APGAR score, fetal gender, perinatal outcomes, preeclampsia (PE), premature rupture of membranes (PROM), gestational hypertension (GHT), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preterm birth, oligohydramnios, polyhydramnios, surmaturation, presentation anomaly, intrauterine death, fetal distress, and placental abruption were evaluated. Results: Data from 365 pregnant women were analyzed. The mean maternal age was 27.2 +/- 5.5 years. The distribution of placental location was 38.4% posterior, 43.0% anterior, 7.4% left sidewall and 11.2% right sidewall. No significant differences were found in placental volume measurements based on delivery mode, fetal gender, or conditions such as PE, GDM, IUGR, PROM, preterm birth, or other perinatal pathologies. Statistical analyses showed no significant association between first-trimester placental volume and adverse perinatal outcomes (p>0.05). Discussion: No relationship was found between first-trimester placental thickness and perinatal outcomes.