Characterization of Placental Diffusion in Women With Diabetes Using DW-MRI

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating placental diffusion changes in pregnant women with uncontrolled diabetes compared to healthy pregnant women. The study aims to understand how tissue hypoxia in the placenta may contribute to fetal damage and the risk of intrauterine fetal death, which is more common in cases of poorly controlled diabetes. This research hopes to develop methods to predict pregnancies at risk of fetal death using advanced imaging techniques. The study uses diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) to measure placental diffusion and perfusion. Two groups of third-trimester pregnant women participate: those with gestational diabetes mellitus and those considered low risk without known diseases. The DW-MRI scans are used to quantitatively compare placental diffusion between these groups over a two-year period. Participants will undergo DW-MRI scans to assess placental diffusion coefficient and perfusion fraction. Researchers will monitor and compare these measures between diabetic and healthy pregnancies. The primary outcome is the placental diffusion coefficient measured by intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI), with the secondary outcome being placental perfusion fraction. The study includes pregnant women aged 18 to 50 years and follows them to better understand placental changes related to diabetes during pregnancy.

Characterization of Placental Diffusion