The Value of Middle Cerebral Artery and Umbilical Artery Doppler Indices in Assessment of Fetal Wellbeing and Prediction of Neonatal Outcome in Preeclampsia

Abstract

Aim of The Study: To evaluate the value of middle cerebral artery and umbilical artery Doppler indices in assessment of fetal wellbeing and prediction of neonatal outcome in pregnant women with preeclampsia. Patients and Methods: This study included 100 pregnant women with preeclampsia, 50 women with uneventful pregnancies, Ultrasound and Doppler studies were carried out to estimate fetal weight, fetal biophysical profile and resistance indices of the middle cerebral and umbilical arteries. C/U RI <1.0 was considered abnormal. Adverse neonatal outcome was diagnosed when Apgar score <6 at 5 minutes, C.S for fetal distress, stained meconium, abnormal BPP, perinatal death and/or neonatal admission to neonatal intensive care unit. Results: adverse neonatal outcome in groups A, B and C was significantly correlated to UA-RI and UA-PI. Between the normal and adverse neonatal outcome, in group A, there was a significant difference in UA-RI (P-value = 0.021); in group B, there was a significant difference in UA-RI and UA-PI (P-value <0.001 and P-value <0.001 respectively); and in group C, there was a significant difference in UA-RI and UA-PI (P-value <0.001 and P-value =0.004 respectively). In our study, both absent and reversed diastolic flows were significantly correlated with bad neonatal outcome in the study group (P value <0.001, r-value = 0.428). Conclusions: MCA and UA Doppler indices are good utilities for the assessment of fetal wellbeing and prediction of neonatal outcome in pregnant women with preeclampsia.