Science to Practice: Can MR Imaging-derived Oxygen-Hemoglobin Dissociation Curves Reveal Transplacental Oxygen Transport and Thus Aid in Monitoring Placental Function?

Abstract

The appropriate management of pregnancies at risk for intrauterine growth restriction relies on accurate identification and diagnosis. However, it is frequently difficult to differentiate between fetuses that are physiologically normal but small for gestational age and those with pathologic intrauterine growth restriction. The methods described by Avni et al ( 1 ) give a sound basis for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-derived assessment of measures of fetal and placental oxygen affinities. The authors combined two techniques that have been used previously for assessment of oxygenation, namely blood oxygenation level-dependent T2* and oxygen-weighted T1 contrast MR imaging. Future studies in animals and humans are needed to determine if the technique can be performed with lower field strength and if changes in fetal or placental oxygen affinities can be detected in time to allow for earlier intervention than that with more standard imaging.