Early first trimester uteroplacental flow and the progressive disintegration of spiral artery plugs: New insights from contrast-enhanced ultrasound and tissue histopathology

STUDY QUESTION: Does the use of a vascular contrast agent facilitate earlier detection of maternal flow to the placental intervillous space (IVS) in the first trimester of pregnancy? SUMMARY ANSWER: Microvascular filling of the IVS was demonstrated by contrast-enhanced ultrasound from 6 weeks of gestation onwards, earlier than previously believed. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: During placental establishment and remodeling of maternal spiral arteries, endovascular trophoblast cells invade and accumulate in the lumen of these vessels to form ‘trophoblast plugs’. Prior evidence from morphological and Doppler ultrasound studies has been conflicting as to whether the spiral arteries are completely plugged, preventing maternal blood flow to the IVS until late in the first trimester. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Uteroplacental flow was examined across the first trimester in human subjects given an intravenous infusion of lipid-shelled octofluoropropane microbubbles with ultrasound measurement of destruction and replenishment kinetics. We also performed a comprehensive histopathological correlation using two separately archived uteroplacental tissue collections to evaluate the degree of spiral artery plugging and evaluate remodeling of the upstream myometrial radial and arcurate arteries. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Pregnant women (n = 34) were recruited in the first trimester (range: 6⁺³ to 13⁺⁶ weeks gestation) for contrast-enhanced ultrasound studies with destruction-replenishment analysis of signal intensity for assessment of microvascular flux rate. Histological samples from archived in situ (Boyd Collection, n = 11) and fresh first, second, and third trimester decidual and post-hysterectomy uterine specimens (n = 16) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (using markers of epithelial, endothelial and T-cells, as well as cell adhesion and proliferation) and ultrastructural analysis. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Contrast agent entry into the IVS was visualized as early as 6⁺³ weeks of gestation with some variability in microvascular flux rate noted in the 6–7⁺⁶ week samples. Spiral artery plug canalization was observed from 7 weeks with progressive disintegration thereafter. Of note, microvascular flux rate did not progressively increase until 13 weeks, which suggests that resistance to maternal flow in the early placenta may be mediated more proximally by myometrial radial arteries that begin remodeling at the end of the first trimester. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: Gestational age was determined by crown-rump length measurements obtained by transvaginal ultrasound on the day of contrast-enhanced imaging studies, which may explain the variability in the earliest gestational age samples due to the margin of error in this type of measurement. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Our comprehensive in situ histological analysis, in combination with the use of an in vivo imaging modality that has the sensitivity to permit visualization of microvascular filling, has allowed us to reveal new evidence in support of increasing blood flow to the IVS from 6 weeks of gestation. Histologic review suggested the mechanism may be blood flow through capillary-sized channels that form through the loosely cohesive ‘plugs’ by 7 weeks gestation. However, spiral artery remodeling on its own did not appear to explain why there is significantly more blood flow at 13 weeks gestation. Histologic studies suggest it may be related to radial artery remodeling, which begins at the end of the first trimester.