Uterine Doppler wave form and the prediction of the recurrence of pre-eclampsia and intra-uterine growth retardation in patients treated with low-dose aspirin

Abstract

Objective: To examine if early uterine Doppler remains a predictor of vascular complications in pregnant women treated with low-dose aspirin for a poor previous obstetrical history. Design: A study of the uterine diastolic index and the uterine notch with a continuous wave Doppler ultrasound. Setting: The maternity Hospital Port-Royal Baudelocque Paris, France. Subjects: All pregnant women between 1991–1992 ( n = 48) early treated with 100 mg daily of aspirin (15.9 (S.D. = 1) weeks) for a poor previous obstetrical history. Methods: The 48 patients underwent a uterine Doppler examination at 23.8 (S.D. = 2.6) weeks. A diastolic index was calculated and the presence of diastolic notch was noted. Main outcome measures: Vascular complications (pre-eclampsia, intra-uterine growth retardation), birth weight. Results: Twenty six patients (54.2%) had an abnormal early uterine Doppler. Nine patients (18.7%) had a vascular complication, which occurred more frequently in pregnant patients with an abnormal uterine Doppler ( 8 26 vs. 1 22 ; P < 0.05). The mean birth weight was lower in patients with a pathological uterine Doppler (2419 (S.D. = 679) vs. 2841 (S.D. = 482) g; P < 0.05). Conclusions: In pregnant, early treated with low-dose aspirin for poor previous pregnancies, early uterine Doppler predicted patients with a high-risk of recurrence of vascular complications.