Effect of chorionic villus sampling on placental volume and vascularization in the first trimester of pregnancy

Objective: To evaluate the effects of chorionic villus sampling (CVS) on placental volume (PV), perfusion, and vasculature in the first trimester of pregnancy. Method: Uterine artery pulsatility index (PI), PV, vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), and Vascularization Flow Index (VFI) were serially measured in 38 pregnant women who underwent CVS. Thirty-eight women who did not undergo invasive prenatal diagnosis were recruited as controls. Results: CVS was associated with a mild reduction of PI, a reduction of placental VI, FI, and VFI and with an increase in PV detected one week after the procedure. The outcome of pregnancy was similar between women of the two groups. Conclusion: Our findings showed that CVS is associated with mild placental vascular and morphological changes. However, these changes do not seem to be associated with adverse outcome.