Neonatal outcome of babies born to mothers with abnormal umbilical artery doppler

Abstract

Background: Umbilical artery Doppler reflects the status of placental circulation. Very few studies have reported the outcome of intrauterine growth restriction infants with abnormal Doppler flow pattern. Methodology: This prospective observational study was conducted between February 2014 and December 2014. Antenatal mothers with umbilical artery Doppler abnormality, admitted our labor room were recruited and neonates were followed up till postnatal day 28 or till the date of hospital discharge whichever is later. Results: During the study, 201 antenatal mothers with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler admitted to labor room were included in the study. More than half, 107 (53%) babies were preterm. Of the 184 live babies, 57 (28%) had respiratory distress of which 36 had transient tachypnea of the newborn, 12 had hyaline membrane disease and 8 had meconium aspiration syndrome. Absent or reversal of end-diastolic flow was more in those mothers with preeclampsia. The rate of intensive care unit admissions was significantly higher in absent or reversal of diastolic flow (AREDF) group when compared to forward end diastolic flow (FEDF) group. Preterm small for gestational age babies and perinatal asphyxia were significantly high in pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) group. Conclusions: Neonates with absent or reversal of diastolic flow in umbilical artery have significantly higher morbidity and mortality when compared to those with FEDF. Even within the abnormal Doppler group, PIH adversely affects the perinatal and neonatal outcome, indicating that PIH is an independent risk factor in predicting adverse perinatal and neonatal outcome.