Can Three-Dimensional Power Doppler Detect Placental Involvement in pregnant women with COVID-19? An observational study

Objective: Placental involvement in pregnant women with covid–19 has been proved by postnatal histopathological examination in many studies even in absence of fetal infection. Whether this placental involvement can be detected prenatally using ultrasonography has not been investigated. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study including 40 women attending for second trimester scan divided into two groups; Group A (pregnant women with mild Covid-19 infection requiring home isolation), Group B (control group). Three-dimensional (3-D) power Doppler ultrasonography of the placenta using VOCAL technique, calculating the placental volume and placental vascular indices including Flow Index (FI), VI (Vascularity index), VFI (Vascularity flow index). The Pulsatility index (PI) of the uterine artery was also measured. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between both groups. Placental volume was significantly higher in Covid group than control group. Mean FI was significantly less while VI and VFI were higher in Covid group compared to control group. Uterine artery doppler did not show any differences between both groups. Conclusion : Mild Covid-19 infection can have an impact on placental volume and placental vascularity and perfusion observed by three-dimensional ultrasonography. In mild cases, whether these changes are transient or permanent, and whether it can have an impact on pregnancy outcomes need to be investigated in future research.