POWER DOPPLER ENHANCEMENT OF THE PLACENTA BY DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE-SULFATE IN TERM PREGNANCY

We studied the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHAS) on pla cental blood flow in 11 women with an uncomplicated pregnancy between 37 and 39 weeks of gestation. Power Doppler enhancement of the placent a was performed before and 60 minutes after the administration of a 20 0 mg intravenous dose of DHAS dissolved in 20 mL of 5% dextrose. Incre ased power Doppler enhancements of the placenta after DHAS injection w ere evident in each case studied. The power Doppler enhancement return ed to the baseline imaging within 60 minutes. This DHAS loading test, assessed by means of power Doppler imaging, may be a useful technique when attempting to assess fetoplacental function in normal and high ri sk pregnancies.