Fetal pulmonary artery doppler parameters in pregnancies complicated with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: a prospective case-control study.

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to determine whether PATET was altered in the fetuses whose mothers were complicated by intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (IHCP). The secondary aim was to investigate the association between fetal pulmonary artery Doppler parameters with neonatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by IHCP. This prospective case control study was conducted in a tertiary perinatal- neonatal center. A total of 18 fetuses whose mothers were complicated by IHCP were set as the study group and a total of 37 fetuses whose mothers were healthy were selected as the control group. Fetal pulmonary artery Doppler parameters (acceleration time -AT; ejection time -ET; AT/ET ratio) were assessed and neonatal outcomes were evaluated. Mean pulmonary artery AT, ET, PATET were statistically significant different between the groups (p=0,001; p=0,024 and p=0,003, respectively). The mean PATET value in the IHCP group was 0,217 ± 0,029 while in the control group it was 0,180 ± 0,020 (p=0,003). While PATET values were correlated with gestational age at birth, respiratory distress and NICU admission were not correlated with PATET. Higher values of PATET may be helpful to understand fetal lung damage secondary to IHCP. of PATET may be helpful to understand fetal lung damage secondary to IHCP.