DOHA: The Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) procured one of the latest ultrasound machines last week. The diagnostic machine, the most advanced one in Seimens' Antares series, will play a major role in foetal-brain research at HMC, according to an expert.
"HMC is doing one of the most challenging researches in medical science on the fetus," said Dr Asim Kurjack, Research Director, HMC Obstetrics and Gynaecology department. "A new sophisticated machine, Seimens-Antares, was introduced last week. Now we have all excellent conditions for three foetal brain researches," he told The Peninsula.
"A new possibility to investigate the integrity of the foetal nervous system came with 4-D sonography, which shows both structure and movement of the baby inside the womb. The machine is the most advanced technological product which gives real-time moving images. It shows the body movements, when and how it happens. Now mothers can see their baby laughing, smiling, yawning, frowning, sucking its finger or any facial expressions. It is almost like a viewing a show with a camera inside the womb," he said.
"We have never been able to see the face much. The face is the predictor of brain and so these researches analyse brain functions based on facial expressions and limb movements." The projects are based on the scoring system, Kurjak Antenatal Neurological Test (KANET). KANET is a neurological test for the fetus based on Dr Kurjak's research.
"The new 4-D analysis will look into 14 established parameters about foetal head and limb movements and expressions for the first time. The diagnosis will be made based on morphology, anatomy and movements. The brain controls all movements and expressions. So if there is any damage in the foetal brain, its movements and expressions will be abnormal," he said
Approximately 10 women, short-listed from around 200 pregnant women, are tested each week as part of the researches. Qatar became the first country to detect cerebral palsy in the womb when two cases were detected recently.
BY HUDA N V
© The Peninsula 2009
