Fetal Femoral Artery Doppler Evaluation in Late-Onset Fetal Growth Restriction: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Objective: To compare the femoral artery and other ultrasonographic Doppler measurements between fetuses with late-onset fetal growth restriction and uncomplicated fetuses.
 Material and method: This prospective cohort study was conducted with 168 patients, including 83 pregnancies presenting with late-onset fetal growth restriction and 85 uncomplicated control pregnancies at similar gestational weeks. The study group was further divided into two according to the neonatal intensive care unit requirements. Demographic characteristics, obstetric characteristics, femoral artery and other ultrasonographic Doppler measurements, and pregnancy outcomes were compared between the groups.
 Results: Uterine artery pulsatility index, umbilical artery systolic/diastolic ratio, and peak systolic velocity of the middle cerebral artery were similar between the study and control groups. However, while the middle cerebral artery pulsatility index was significantly lower in the study group, the femoral artery pulsatility index value was significantly higher (p