Mid-trimester Uterine Artery Doppler Research Articles

Mid-trimester uterine artery Doppler for aspirin discontinuation in pregnancies at high risk for preterm pre-eclampsia: Post-hoc analysis of StopPRE trial.

To assess whether aspirin treatment can be discontinued in pregnancies with normal uterine artery pulsatility index (≤90th percentile) at 24-28 weeks. Post-hoc analysis of a clinical trial. Nine maternity hospitals in Spain. Pregnant individuals at high risk of pre-eclampsia at 11-13 weeks and normal uterine artery Doppler at 24-28 weeks. All participants received treatment with daily aspirin at a dose of 150 mg. Participants were randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, either to continue aspirin treatment until 36 weeks (control group) or to discontinue aspirin treatment (intervention group), between September 2019 and September 2021. In this secondary analysis, women with a UtAPI >90th percentile at 24-28 weeks were excluded. The non-inferiority margin was set at a difference of 1.9% for the incidence of preterm pre-eclampsia. Incidence of preterm pre-eclampsia. Of the 1611 eligible women, 139 were excluded for UtAPI >90th percentile or if UtAPI was not available. Finally, 804 were included in this post-hoc analysis. Preterm pre-eclampsia occurred in three of 409 (0.7%) women in the aspirin discontinuation group and five of 395 (1.3%) women in the continuation group (-0.53; 95% CI -1.91 to 0.85), indicating non-inferiority of aspirin discontinuation. Discontinuing aspirin treatment at 24-28 weeks in women with a UtAPI ≤90th percentile was non-inferior to continuing aspirin treatment until 36 weeks for preventing preterm pre-eclampsia.

Role of Routine Mid-Trimester Uterine Artery Doppler for Surveillance of Placental Mediated Disorders in a Low-Risk Population.

Abnormalities in the placentation process can increase pregnancy-related complications like pre-eclampsia, placental abruption, intrauterine-fetal death (IUFD) or foetal-growth restriction (FGR). Our objective was to investigate the feasibility of utilising the mid-trimester uterine artery Doppler Pulsatility Index (PI), a non-invasive and effective screening tool, as a diagnostic measure to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes in a low-risk population in South India. This prospective cohort study was done in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology unit at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, South India, between August 2018 and January 2020. Uterine artery Doppler was performed along with the targeted anomaly scan between 18 and 24 weeks of gestation and a relationship was established with pregnancy outcome. Of 100 participants, abnormal uterine artery PI (PI > 90th centile) was found in 13 pregnancies, of which statistically significant association was found with hypertensive disorders (P=0.001), FGR (P=0.064) and preterm birth before 37 weeks (P=0.051). No association was found between abnormal uterine artery PI and neonatal birth weight (P=-0.3), APGAR score (P=0.35) and NICU admission (P=0.078). An early abnormal finding in the doppler study can modify the level of antenatal surveillance required along with appropriate timely interventions, thereby significantly reducing the associated maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. When combined with routine ultrasound in pregnancy, such an affordable and straightforward diagnostic modality can improve antenatal care by reducing complications even in a low-risk population.

Evidence for uteroplacental malperfusion in fetuses with major congenital heart defects.

AimsFetuses affected by congenital heart defects (CHD) are considered to be at increased risk of fetal growth restriction and intrauterine demise. Whether these risks are a direct consequence of fetal CHD or a result of associated uteroplacental dysfunction is not evident from the data of recent studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of uteroplacental dysfunction reflected by abnormal uterine artery Doppler indices and reduced fetal growth in CHD pregnancies.MethodsThis is a retrospective case-control study including singleton pregnancies referred for detailed fetal cardiac assessment subsequently diagnosed with or without CHD. Mid-trimester uterine artery Doppler assessment at 20–24 weeks as well as third trimester fetal biometry and arterial Doppler pulsatility indices (PI) were performed. All fetal biometry were converted into centiles and Doppler values to multiples of median (MoM) to adjust for physiological changes with gestation.ResultsThe study included 811 pregnancies including 153 cases where the fetus was diagnosed with CHD. Mid-pregnancy uterine artery PI was significantly higher in women with fetal CHD compared to controls (0.90MoM vs 0.83MoM; p = 0.006). In the third trimester, median centiles for fetal head circumference (45.4 vs 57.07; p<0.001), abdominal circumference (51.17 vs 55.71; p = 0.014), estimated fetal weight (33.6 vs 56.7; p<0.001) and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR: 0.84MoM vs 0.95MoM; p<0.001) were significantly lower in fetuses with CHD compared to controls. The percentage of small for gestational age births <10th centile (24.0% vs 10.7%; <0.001) and low CPR <0.6MoM (11.7% vs 2.5%; p<0.001) were significantly higher in the fetal CHD cohort.ConclusionsMid-pregnancy uterine artery resistance is increased and subsequent fetal biometry reduced in pregnancies with CHD fetuses. These findings suggest that fetal CHD are associated with uteroplacental dysfunction, secondary to impaired maternal uteroplacental perfusion resulting in relative fetal hypoxaemia and reduced fetal growth.

Uterine artery Doppler, birth weight and timing of onset of pre-eclampsia: providing insights into the dual etiology of late-onset pre-eclampsia

To investigate the relationship between uterine artery Doppler ultrasound indices and birth weight in women with early-, intermediate- and late-onset pre-eclampsia as compared with women with uneventful pregnancy outcome. In a retrospective, observational cohort study, uterine artery Doppler assessment was carried out at 18+0 to 23+6 weeks' gestation in 26,893 women attending for routine antenatal care in a tertiary care center. The mean resistance index (RI) and its relationship to the outcome of pregnancy and birth-weight centiles were evaluated. Uterine artery RI showed a significant, negative correlation with birth weight (r= -0.20, P<0.0001). Patients with early-onset pre-eclampsia had an increased prevalence of high uterine artery mean RI, above the 90(th) centile, corresponding to an increased proportion of small-for-gestational age (SGA) neonates with a birth weight below the 10(th) centile. In late-onset pre-eclampsia, however, there was an unexpectedly higher proportion of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) neonates with a birth weight above the 90(th) centile without a concurrent increase in the prevalence of low uterine artery mean RI below the 10(th) centile. The finding of a bimodal skewed distribution of birth weight, with neonates exhibiting a higher prevalence of both LGA and SGA with late-onset pre-eclampsia, indicates that there are two types of late-onset pre-eclampsia. These findings explain the poor performance of mid-trimester uterine artery Doppler in predicting pre-eclampsia at term and provide insights into the placental origins of the early and late forms of pre-eclampsia.

Significance of uteroplacental Doppler at midtrimester in patients with favourable obstetric history

Objective: To reassess the usefulness of midtrimester uterine Doppler in low-risk multiparous women. Methods: We prospectively recruited low-risk pregnant women at 20–22 weeks attending our clinic. Among those, women with a favourable obstetric history (group A) were distinguished from nulliparous (group B) and of each group we measured uterine artery Doppler (pulsatility index (PI)). We evaluated the accuracy of uterine artery Doppler in the prediction of preeclampsia and small for gestational age (SGA) neonates. Results: Between January 2009 and October 2010, 382 women were included in the study of which 147 in group A and 235 in group B. Overall, 26/382 (6.8%) women presented preeclampsia and SGA occurred in 59/382 (15.4%) cases. In our population, at a 10% false positive rate (FPR) uterine artery Doppler showed a detection rate (DR) of 19.2% for preeclampsia and of 37.3% for SGA, with a higher sensitivity for SGA neonates delivered ≤ vs. >34 weeks (87% vs. 29.4%). The univariable receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve by uterine artery PI yielded a significant prediction only for SGA in nulliparous women (areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.70; 95% CI 0.60–0.79). Conclusions: Our data confirmed that midtrimester uterine artery Doppler is not an efficient strategy in anticipating the risk of pregnancy complications among low-risk multiparous women.

Prediction of Preeclampsia by Midtrimester Uterine Artery Doppler Velocimetry in High-Risk and Low-Risk Women

To observe the role of uterine artery Doppler flow velocimetry at midtrimester in prediction of preeclampsia. 179 women carrying <16weeks of pregnancy, with singleton fetus and without any fetal anomaly were recruited and were divided in high-risk and low-risk group. Doppler velocimetry of uterine artery was done at 24-26weeks. Any notch in uterine artery, unilateral or bilateral, or RI>0.6, was considered abnormal. Women were followed up and development of preeclampsia noted. Sensitivity and specificity of abnormal uterine artery Doppler study for prediction of preeclampsia were 73.33 and 86.48% in high-risk and 57.14 and 95.83% in low-risk group, respectively. Relative risk with 95% confidence interval was 5.427 (2.272-12.958) in high-risk and 13.65 (5.669-32.865) in low-risk women. Doppler velocimetry of uterine artery at 24weeks can be used as a reliable screening test for prediction of preeclampsia in both high-risk and low-risk women.

Mid-trimester uterine artery Doppler ultrasound as a predictor of adverse obstetric outcome in high-risk pregnancy

Objective The aim of this study was to assess uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography efficiency in prediction of adverse pregnancy outcome in high-risk pregnancies. Materials and Methods We selected 70 pregnant women who were high risk for development of preeclampsia, abruption, low birth weight (LBW), and preterm delivery during their pregnancy, and Doppler ultrasonography was performed for them in 18–24 gestational weeks for evaluation of uterine artery notching. Absence of diastolic flow in uterine artery waves was defined as notching. The women were divided into two groups: with notching (Group A) and without notching (Group B), then they were compared for complications such as preeclampsia, abruption, LBW, and preterm delivery. Results In 70 high-risk pregnant women, 27 women (39.2%) were in Group A and the others were in Group B. The birth weight in Groups A and B was 2,897.5 ± 757.15 and 3,248.39 ± 374.27, respectively. In our study, 15 patients were delivered before 37 gestational weeks (preterm labor). Preeclampsia, abruption, and LBW were significantly higher in the group with positive notching, but preterm delivery did not show any statistical difference between the two groups. Conclusion According to the results, uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography had high negative predictive value for prediction of preeclampsia, abruption, and LBW. Therefore, absence of uterine artery notching in mid-trimester evaluation of high-risk pregnant women may predict better pregnancy outcome. We recommend Doppler ultrasonography for all high-risk pregnant women in second trimester for prediction of pregnancy outcome.

Prevalence of maternal cardiac defects in women with high‐resistance uterine artery Doppler indices

To compare the prevalence of previously undiagnosed cardiac structural abnormalities in pregnant women with normal- and high-resistance midtrimester uterine artery Doppler indices. Maternal transthoracic echocardiography was undertaken in asymptomatic pregnant women after uterine artery Doppler screening for pre-eclampsia at 21-23 weeks' gestation. Women with a mean uterine artery pulsatility index above the 90(th) centile (1.25) for the local population (multiethnic, socially diverse and migrant) were considered to have high-resistance uteroplacental blood flow indices. The prevalence of newly diagnosed cardiac structural defects in these women was recorded. A total of 491 women underwent echocardiography, of whom 205 had high-resistance uterine artery blood flow indices. There were nine previously undiagnosed, functionally significant cardiac defects in the high-resistance uterine artery blood flow group and only one, functionally insignificant cardiac defect in the normal-resistance group (P = 0.005; relative risk = 12.6, 95% confidence interval, 1.60-98.34). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that both uterine artery Doppler indices (P = 0.024) and ethnicity (P = 0.048) contributed independently towards a higher prevalence of cardiac defects. The prevalence of previously undiagnosed maternal cardiac structural abnormalities is significantly increased in women with high midtrimester uterine artery Doppler resistance indices. This observation has important consequences for the current and long-term medical care provided to these patients. Detailed maternal cardiac assessment with echocardiography may be required in migrant women with high uterine artery Doppler indices.

P8 Mid-trimester uterine artery Doppler screening in prediction of preeclampsia in high risk women

P8 Mid-trimester uterine artery Doppler screening in prediction of preeclampsia in high risk women

P204 Mid trimester uterine artery Doppler screening as a predictor of adverse pregnancy outcome in high risk pregnant women

P204 Mid trimester uterine artery Doppler screening as a predictor of adverse pregnancy outcome in high risk pregnant women

Angiogenic factors for the prediction of pre-eclampsia in women with abnormal midtrimester uterine artery Doppler velocimetry

Objective To determine whether assessing uterine perfusion and angiogenic factors concurrently in the second trimester improves the prediction of pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Method Plasma levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) were measured for 108 women with abnormal uterine perfusion on Doppler velocimetry in the 23rd week. Later, 33 cases of pre-eclampsia and 9 of IUGR developed. Results Compared with the plasma levels of the women whose pregnancies remained normal, sFlt-1 levels were significantly higher and PlGF levels significantly lower in the women whose pregnancies became complicated by pre-eclampsia and/or IUGR ( P < 0.001). The alterations were more pronounced in cases of early-onset pre-eclampsia and in cases of IUGR that necessitated delivery before 34 weeks. Using the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, these complications could be predicted with 98% sensitivity, 95% specificity, and 93% positive predictive value. Conclusion Measuring uterine perfusion and angiogenic factors concurrently in the second trimester improved the prediction of pre-eclampsia and IUGR.

Uterine artery Doppler in predicting pregnancy outcome in women with antiphospholipid syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To assess midtrimester uterine artery Doppler in the prediction of preeclampsia and small for gestational age (SGA) infants in women with primary antiphospholipid syndrome. METHODS: One hundred seventy pregnant women with histories of recurrent miscarriage in association with antiphospholipid antibodies (32 lupus anticoagulant positive, 47 IgG anticardiolipin positive, 78 IgM anticardiolipin positive, and 13 lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies positive) treated with low-dose aspirin and heparin were recruited prospectively. Doppler assessment of the uterine arteries (presence or absence of notches and pulsatility index) were performed at 16–18 and 22–24 weeks. The main outcome measures were the delivery of a SGA infant and the development of preeclampsia. RESULTS: There were 164 live births and six midtrimester losses. The prevalence of preeclampsia and SGA was similar at 10%. In predicting preeclampsia or SGA, uterine artery pulsatility index at either interval was of no value, and the diagnostic accuracy of the Doppler was limited to bilateral uterine artery notches at 22–24 weeks in the subgroup of women with positive lupus anticoagulant. In this subgroup, bilateral uterine artery notches at 22–24 weeks in predicting preeclampsia generated a high likelihood ratio for positive test (12.8, 95% confidence interval 2.2, 75), sensitivity (75%), specificity (94%), positive (75%) and negative (94%) predictive value. In predicting SGA, the corresponding figures were respectively 13.6 (95% confidence interval 1.9, 96), 80%, 94%, 80%, 94%. Uterine artery Doppler was of limited value in pregnancies associated with anticardiolipin antibodies in isolation. CONCLUSION: In pregnancies associated with lupus anticoagulant, uterine artery Doppler at 22–24 weeks is a useful screening test in predicting preeclampsia and SGA infants.

Estudio Doppler de las arterias uterinas: predicción de complicaciones perinatales

AimTo assess the use of midtrimester uterine artery Doppler studies in the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcome MethodsThis is a prospective study involving 313 pregnancies who were screened with color and pulsed Doppler in both uterine arteries at 19-21 weeks. Pregnancies with abnormal uterine artery waveforms (notching) were rescanned at 22-25 weeks. The incidence of preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), stillbirth and neonatal death were recorded as adverse pregnancy outcome its relationship with abnormal Doppler findings was assessed ResultsAt 20 weeks there were 92 pregnancies with unilateral (18%) or bilateral (11%) protodiastolic notching. From 15 pregnancies with an adverse outcome 4 (27%) had bilateral notching and 11 had normal waveforms. At 22-25 weeks bilateral notching persisted in 13 (37%) of the 35 pregnancies including 2 with adverse outcome. An adverse outcome was also observed in 2 of the pregnancies with unilateral notching (a stillbirth and a preeclampsia). The risk of an adverse outcome when bilateral notching is found at 20 weeks is 14% (4/28), increasing to 22% when it persists to 24 weeks ConclusionDoppler studies in the uterine artery have a limited role in the prediction of an adverse pregnancy outcome