The Study of Predictive Value of Uterine Artery Doppler in Incidence of Preeclampsia and Intrauterine Growth Restrictions in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Objectives: Preeclampsia is considered as one of the most important causes of death among pregnant women all around the world. This study aimed to study the predictive value of uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography in the incidence of preeclampsia and the intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in pregnant women who attended Fatemieh hospital. Materials and Methods: This study was performed by the prospective cohort method and the statistical population included 108 pregnant women, in their 18-22 weeks of pregnancy, with a singleton pregnancy who referred to the prenatal Fatemieh Hospital of Hamadan during 2013-2016. The uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography was performed and the incidence of IUGR and the occurrence of preeclampsia in the followed pregnancy was evaluated in these patients. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16.0 using the chi-square and Mann-Whitney U statistical tests. Results: The mean difference of pulsatility index (PI) in patients with preeclampsia was statistically significant compared to healthy individuals (P=0.001). In addition, the mean difference of PI in individuals with infants suffering from IUGR was statistically significant compared with the infants not suffering from the IUGR (P=0.001). Further, the incidence of preeclampsia and IUGR in women with a bilateral notch in ultrasonography was significantly greater than those of the women with no report of a bilateral notch in ultrasonography (P=0.001). Conclusions: Therefore, Doppler ultrasonography of the uterine artery has a predictive value in preeclampsia among pregnant women.