Open AccessUterine artery Doppler measurements during first and second trimesters of normal pregnancy
Author(s) -
Stridsklev Solhild,
Salvesen Øyvind,
Salvesen Kjell Å.,
Carlsen Sven M.,
Husøy May A.,
Vanky Eszter
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/aogs.13073
Subject(s) - medicine , uterine artery , pregnancy , gestational age , gestation , reference range , quartile , obstetrics , ultrasound , pulsatility index , first trimester , blood flow , second trimester , gynecology , fetus , cardiology , radiology , confidence interval , genetics , biology
The aim of this study was to construct a reference curve based on longitudinal Doppler blood flow measurements of the uterine artery during the first and second trimesters of normal pregnancy. Material and methods Healthy pregnant women ( n = 124) between 18 and 38 years of age were included. The uterine artery pulsatility index (Ut API ) was measured with transvaginal ultrasound in the first trimester (gestational weeks 8–10 and 11–13) and with transabdominal ultrasound in the second trimester (gestational weeks 18 and 24). Individual longitudinal curves were constructed and a reference curve was created. Results A centile curve with the normal distribution of the Ut API during the first and second trimesters was constructed. We found that 90% of the women alternated between quartiles during the four examinations between gestational weeks 8 and 24, but 75% remained within the higher or lower range. Conclusions A Ut API reference curve was constructed for the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. Although the mean Ut API values may vary from one examination to the next, most mean Ut API values remain within the higher or lower range, i.e. above or below the 50th centile.