Functional differences in the placenta of pregnancies affected by pre-eclampsia or fetal growth restriction

Motivation: Pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction (FGR) are common placental diseases that result in a spectrum of poorer perinatal outcome. MR based research is promising for better understanding of both conditions, but has not focussed on direct comparison between diseases despite differing placental histopathology and clinical outcomes. Goal(s): To explore differences in antenatal placental function using MRI. Approach: Comparison of placental T2* and diffusion parameters in women with pre-eclampsia or isolated FGR as compared to controls, and to each other. Results: Pregnancies affected by pre-eclampsia and FGR both show significant deviations from the normal, but also differ from each other. Impact: Placental diseases are common in pregnancy. As well as highlighting deviations from normal, placental MRI results vary between conditions. This highlights the potential for MRI to provide better correlation with histopathology and outcomes than is currently possible clinically.