THE ROLE OF OSSIFICATION CENTERS IN OBSTETRICS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW
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Abstract
The incidence of hyperglycemia during pregnancy is increasing annually. Under the influence of maternal hyperglycemia, a complex of anatomical and functional abnormalities, known as diabetic fetopathy, develops in 19.2-38.3% of fetuses. The main method for the antenatal diagnosis of this complication is ultrasonography; however, only some of the ultrasound markers demonstrate high sensitivity and specificity, while the positive predictive value of these parameters remains insufficiently high. This circumstance underscores the relevance of identifying new markers for assessing fetal maturity.
The aim of the research – to analyze and systematize the available scientific evidence on fetal bone development in normal and complicated pregnancies and to assess the potential use of ossification centers as markers of fetal maturity.
Materials and methods. A selection of international and Russian publications addressing the use of ossification centers for the assessment of fetal maturity was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
Results. Analysis of the available scientific literature showed that, at present, the use of primary and secondary ossification centers in obstetrics is limited due to the lack of systematization of existing data, as well as the absence of large-scale studies.
Conclusions. Establishing the precise timing of the appearance of ossification centers and their growth rates will make it possible to use them for the assessment of fetal well-being, thereby improving the prediction of pregnancy complications and maternal and perinatal outcomes.
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