The predictive value of sonographic placental markers for adverse pregnancy outcome in women with chronic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the rate of sonographic placental markers and their predictive value for preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction in women with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

STUDY

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study of women with CKD followed at a tertiary referral center between 2016 and 2019 (n = 86). All women underwent 2nd trimester sonographic placental examinations that included assessment of placental morphology, umbilical cord, and uterine artery Doppler. Continuous placental markers were converted to multiples on medians (MoM).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Predictive value of sonographic markers for preeclampsia and birthweight < 10th percentile.

RESULTS

Women in the cohort had a high rate of preeclampsia (24.4%), birthweight < 10th% (26.7%), and preterm birth (30.2%). The most important markers were placental volume and uterine artery Doppler: the risk of preeclampsia was elevated in women with low placental volume (51.7% vs. 10.9%; OR = 8.79 [2.70-28.59] for preeclampsia; and 40.0% vs. 9.1%; OR = 6.67 [1.85-24.04] for preterm preeclampsia), and in women with bilateral uterine artery notching (62.5% vs. 20.8%; OR = 6.35 [1.37-29.45] for preeclampsia; and 62.5% vs. 10.4%; OR = 14.38 [1.29-71.75] for preterm preeclampsia). The combination of both markers had the strongest predictive value for preeclampsia (positive likelihood ratio = 8.25 [6.84-9.95]). Low placental volume and bilateral uterine notching were also associated with birthweight < 10th percentile.

CONCLUSION

A 2nd-trimester sonographic placental study can identify a subgroup of women with CKD who are at most risk of preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Such data may inform their subsequent perinatal care and assist care providers in the often challenging distinction between preeclampsia flare of underlying CKD.