Fetal Growth Evaluation by Three-Dimensional Ultrasound
Fetal Growth Evaluation by Three-Dimensional Ultrasound
Fetal growth abnormalities, such as macrosomia and intrauterine growth retardation, are an
 important cause for increased perinatal mortality in the United States. Toward this end,
 accurate fetal weight determinations are very important for guiding prenatal care.
 Three-dimensional ultrasound is a recent technology that provides a new way to evaluate the
 fetus. This technique allows one to arbitrarily scan through a digital ultrasound volume
 dataset, visualize organs from different perspectives, and render anatomical features through
 computer processing. It also allows the retrospective measurement of distances and volumes
 even in the physical absence of the patient.

 A maximum of 400 pregnancies will be serially studied by three-dimensional ultrasound to
 characterize the growth of volume parameters such as the fetal thigh. This information will
 be applied to the Rossavik model of individualized growth assessment. The technique allows
 growth evaluation by comparing various ultrasound measurements or birth characteristics to
 the individual growth standards specified by the prediction model. Newborn infant body
 composition will also be studied within 48 hours of delivery.

 A separate cross-sectional study of up to 2,577 fetuses will allow development of birth
 weight prediction models based upon fetal volume measurements and further analysis of fetal
 growth abnormalities. Individual growth curve standards utilizing these volume parameters
 should allow one to evaluate deviations from expected growth or birth weight by using each
 fetus as its own control.
Fetal growth abnormalities, such as macrosomia and intrauterine growth retardation, are an
 important cause for increased perinatal mortality in the United States. Toward this end,
 accurate fetal weight determinations are very important for guiding prenatal care.
 Three-dimensional ultrasound is a recent technology that provides a new way to evaluate the
 fetus. This technique allows one to arbitrarily scan through a digital ultrasound volume
 dataset, visualize organs from different perspectives, and render anatomical features through
 computer processing. It also allows the retrospective measurement of distances and volumes
 even in the physical absence of the patient.

 This protocol consists of two study arms and emphasizes the ability of 3D ultrasound to
 reliably measure fetal soft tissue as an index of generalized nutritional status. The
 longitudinal arm will enroll 400 pregnancies to allow the use of 2D and 3D ultrasonography
 for characterizing serial growth patterns of sonographic parameters throughout pregnancy.
 This approach compares ultrasound measurements or birth characteristics to individual growth
 standards specified by Rossavik prediction models. After delivery, a maximum of 329 newborn
 infants, resulting from the same pregnancies, will have correlative photographs and
 measurements of their head, abdomen, thigh, skin folds, weight, and crown-heel length taken
 to classify growth outcome. Noninvasive air displacement plethymography will be used to
 measure neonatal percent body fat and lean body mass after delivery. Infant body composition
 data will allow the precise classification of neonatal growth outcome for subsequent
 correlation to prenatal sonographic studies. The cross-sectional arm of this protocol will
 allow sonographic studies of 2,577 fetuses with similar correlative neonatal evaluation of
 1,212 infants for a total of 3,789 subjects. The results will be used to develop a new fetal
 weight estimation models that combine 2D and 3D sonographic parameters to improve accuracy
 and precision of these predictions. A maximum of 50 newborns from this cross-sectional arm
 will also be re-evaluated for infant body composition at 1 and 2 weeks following delivery to
 document changes in percent body fat and fat-free mass. Therefore, the subject recruitment
 ceiling would be (2,577 mothers + 1,212 infants) + (400 mothers + 329 infants) or 4,518 total
 subjects for this Protocol.
-  INCLUSION CRITERIA:

 ALL SUBJECTS:

 Pregnant women between the ages of 18 and 40 years at Hutzel and William Beaumont Hospital
 sites.

 LOGITUDINAL ARM:

 Single gestation.

 No pregnancy complications.

 Accurate dating criteria (sure LMP or first trimester scan).

 CROSS-SECTIONAL ARM OF PROTOCOL:

 Singe Gestation.

 No pregnancy complications.

 Accurate data criteria (sure LMP or 1st trimester scan).

 Delivery anticipated within 4 days of scan.

 INFANT BODY COMPOSITION STUDY

 Birthweight above 1,000 grams

 EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

 LONGITUDINAL ARM OF PROTOCOL:

 Poor visualization of the fetus due to technical factors (e.g. obesity).

 Risk factors that increase risk for not keeping serial ultrasound appointments.

 CROSS-SECTIONAL ARM OF PROTOCOL:

 Poor visualization of the fetus due to technical factors (e.g. obesity).

 Hemodynamically unstable patients.

 INFANT BODY COMPOSITION STUDY

 Infants requiring mechanical ventilation, heart monitors, or intravenous fluid.

 Hemodynamically unstable infant

 Infants with thermoregulation problems