Photo Credit: Helin Loik-Tomson

A model using first-trimester combined preeclampsia screening parameters was efficacious for predicting stillbirths, according to a retrospective cohort study published in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. The researchers evaluated the predictive accuracy of combined maternal biophysical, ultrasound, and biochemical markers for stillbirths during first-trimester preeclampsia screening (11–13 weeks’ gestation). The authors used data from 1,643 pregnant women that included maternal factors, mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI), maternal ophthalmic Doppler peak ratios, and placental growth factor (PlGF) levels. Among the 13 stillbirths (0.79%) identified, the combined model incorporating maternal factors, MAP, UtA-PI, and PlGF was a strong predictor for all stillbirth types (AUC, 0.879; 95% CI, 0.799–0.959) and showed excellent accuracy for placental dysfunction-related stillbirths (AUC, 0.984; 95% CI, 0.960–1.000). Sensitivity and specificity for placental dysfunction-related stillbirth were 98.5% and 85.7%, respectively. The researchers wrote that their model could aid early identification and intervention for at-risk pregnancies.