Doppler and biochemical assessment for the prediction of early pregnancy outcome in patients experiencing threatened spontaneous abortion

Abstract

To evaluate the usefulness of Doppler indices of the corpus luteum and uterine artery in combination with serum progesterone and cancer antigen 125 (CA125) as prognostic tools in first-trimester threatened spontaneous abortion. Pregnant women with threatened spontaneous abortion at a pregnancy duration 8-10weeks were enrolled into an observational prospective clinical trial at a university hospital in Egypt during 2015. Doppler indices (uterine artery/corpus luteum resistance index and pulsatility index) and biochemical markers (CA125, progesterone) were determined and compared by pregnancy outcome (spontaneous abortion vs continuing pregnancy at 20weeks). Of 100 women included, 16 had a spontaneous abortion. These women had a higher CA125 value than did women without an abortion (P<0.001), whereas the progesterone level among women with an abortion was lower (P<0.001). The Doppler indices were not significantly different between the groups, but calculation of the uterine artery resistance index as a percentage of the normal standard value at a given pregnancy duration revealed significant differences (P<0.001) between the two groups. Serum progesterone and CA125 are useful provisional predictors of spontaneous abortion, whereas the Doppler indices are not. The two biomarkers could be used as a basis to counsel anxious couples. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT02420769.