Comparison of the T2-star Values of Placentas Obtained from Pre- eclamptic Patients with Those of a Control Group: an Ex-vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Abstract

Background: Endotel dysfunction, vasoconstriction, and oxidative stress are described in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia, but its aetiology has not been revealed clearly. Aims: To examine whether there is a difference between the placentas of pre-eclamptic pregnant women and those of a control group in terms of their T2 star values. Study Design: Case-control study. Methods: Twenty patients diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and 22 healthy controls were included in this study. The placentas obtained after births performed via Caesarean section were taken into the magnetic resonance imaging area in plastic bags within the first postnatal hour, and imaging was performed via modified DIXON-Quant sequence. Average values were obtained by performing T2 star measurements from four localisations on the placentas. Results: T2 star values measured in the placentas of the control group were found to be significantly lower than those in the pre-eclampsia group (p