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The combination of uterine artery Doppler and placental volume measurement in the first trimester for the prediction of high risk pregnancies
Author(s) -
Schuchter K.,
Metzenbauer M.,
Hafner E.,
Philipp K.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2001.abs26-26.x
Subject(s) - medicine , obstetrics , placental abruption , uterine artery , preeclampsia , notching , placenta , gestation , gestational age , gynecology , pregnancy , basal plate (neural tube) , fetus , materials science , biology , metallurgy , genetics
Purpose: To evaluate the combination of placental volume measurement and uterine artery Doppler in the first trimester for the prediction of pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia, pregnancy induced hypertension, preterm placental abruption or fetal growth retardation. Methods: At the booking scan in the first trimester one single operator was performing Doppler examinations of both uterine arteries on 380 women with singleton pregnancies. Both the pulsatility index (PI) and the criteria of notching or not notching were recorded. Another operator was recording and afterwards calculating the placental volume at the same visit. In order to correct the placental volume measurement for the gestational age a placenta quotient was calculated (placental volume/crown‐rump length). Results: Uterine artery PI above the 90th centile could be recorded in 38 pregnant women. Three of these pregnancies were complicated with placental abruption, two of these were preterm placental abruptions with additional PIH. Six of the 38 pregnancies ended with SGA babies. On 39 women, the calculated placental quotient was below the 10th centile. Two of these women developed PIH in addition to the occurance of placental abruption. Six babies had a birth weight below the 10th centile and one of these had PIH. Only eight pregnancies met the criteria of uterine artery PI above the 90th centile and placenta quotient below the 10th centile. Two of these ended with placental abruption and PIH before 37 weeks of gestation, four of these babies had a birth weight below the 10th centile and none of these had a birth weight above the 50th centile. Conclusion: Regarding our results we think that the combination of placental volume measurement and uterine artery Doppler might be a possible way for the evaluation of high risk pregnancies.