Predicting fetal anemia by using reference centile charts for liver length, spleen perimeter and umbilical vein maximum flow velocity in Thai fetuses throughout gestation

Abstract

Aim: To create reference centile charts for liver length, spleen perimeter and umbilical vein maximum flow velocity (UVVmax) in Thai fetuses in order to predict fetal anemia in Thai fetuses. Methods: The study was a prospective, cross-sectional study, carried out at the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University. A total of 780 pregnant women between 13 and 40 weeks' gestation, who attended the antenatal clinic at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, were recruited. Each fetus was measured only once for the purpose of this study. The mean and standard deviation (SD) were estimated at each week of gestation using linear regression modeling. A total of 752 fetuses were measured for fetal liver length, spleen perimeter and UVVmax. Linear regression models were fitted to estimate the mean 95% confidence interval for liver length, spleen perimeter and UVVmax at each gestational age. The centile charts of those parameters were also presented. Conclusion: Reference centile charts for fetal liver length, spleen perimeter and UVVmax of Thai fetuses were created.