Shear Wave Sono-Elastography in Placental Assessment in Preeclampsia: Does it value?

Background: Preeclampsia is a major contributor to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Placenta is considered crucial in its pathogenesis. Shear-wave elastography provides a quantified stiffness map of tissues. Studies concerning placentas of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus have been reported. Objectives: evaluate the utility of SWE in assessment of placental function in preeclampsia. Patients and methods: Study included 60 singleton pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters; 30 with preeclampsia, and 30 as controls subjected to ultrasound examination with dedicated SWE of placenta. Results: Statistically significant difference was found as regard to labor age and birth weight. Placental stiffness as measured by SWE was significantly higher in women with preeclampsia than in healthy controls , measured values ranged from 2.50 to 11.0 kPa (mean =6.23 ± 2.78 kPa) and 4.0 to 13.50 kPa (mean =7.97 ± 2.91 kPa) at central and peripheral placentas respectively at control group, and 7.0 to 35.0 (mean =20.39 ± 10.19 kPa) and 8.50 to 39.80kPa (mean =22.54 ± 10.44kPa) at central and peripheral placentas respectively at preeclampsia group. Good positive correlation was found between placental grading and elasticity values. There was a statistically significant difference as regard to doppler indices with no obvious correlation between shear wave elasticity values and doppler indices. ROC curve analysis revealed cut-off value >8 kPa at central placenta and >11 kPa at peripheral placenta for diagnosis of preeclampsia. Conclusion: shear-wave elastography is effective non-invasive technique for the assessment of placental elasticity providing good diagnostic performance for detecting preeclampsia.