SONOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF FOETAL LIVER VOLUME CHANGES IN PREECLAMPSIA

Authors

  • Mohammed, Y. M. Department of Medical Radiography, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
  • Ugwu, A. C. Department of Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • Eze, J. C. Department of Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • Nwodo, V. K. Department of Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • Ali, A. M. Department of Radiography, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
  • Bamanga, A. National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre Saye-Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
  • Mohammed, I. Department of Medical Radiography, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
  • Umaru, A. Department of Medical Radiography, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
  • Nwadike, S.O. Department of Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Keywords:

Foetal, liver, Volume, pre-eclampsia

Abstract

Introduction: The foetal liver serves as a central site for foeto-placental metabolism and vascular connection with the heart, and it is markedly influenced by intrauterine pathologies, rendering liver size assessment by ultrasonography essential for evaluating growth, nutrition, and maturation, and for early detection of microsomia and macrosomia.

Aim: This study aimed to assess foetal liver volume changes in pregnant participants with preeclampsia and to correlate foetal liver volume with the gestational age.

Material and methods: A case-controlled study involving 602 participants was conducted at Borno State Specialist Hospital. Purposive sampling method was adopted to recruit pre-eclamptic pregnant women, while non-pre-eclamptic pregnant women were selected using convenience sampling. The foetal biparietal diameter, femoral length, liver dimensions (anteroposterior, transverse, cephalocaudal), was measured with ultrasonic diagnostic software. Descriptive statistics and normality tests (Shapiro-Wilk) were performed. Mann-Whitney U tested differences in foetal liver volumes between two groups. Spearman’s rho assessed correlations between foetal liver volume with gestational age. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Statistically significant reductions (p < 0.001) were observed in foetal liver volume of the pre-eclamptic participants compared to non-pre-eclamptic individuals. Strong positive statistically significant correlation existed between the foetal liver volume with gestational age.

Conclusion: Sonography effectively identified a significant reduction of foetal liver volume in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia.

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Published

30-08-2025

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2025)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Biomedical Investigation

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How to Cite

SONOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF FOETAL LIVER VOLUME CHANGES IN PREECLAMPSIA. (2025). Journal of Biomedical Investigation, 13(2), 88-96. https://journals.unizik.edu.ng/jbi/article/view/7419