Umbilical Artery Flow Velocity in Pregnancy Induced Hypertension at Third Trimester

Abstract

Background: Doppler ultrasound of umbilical vessels is a technique for evaluating fetoplacental blood flow which is very important in high risk pregnancies like hypertensive pregnancies and can predict both fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Since the traditional methods are not good enough to assess uteroplacental and fetoplacental circulation, blood flow studies are used to assess fetal well-being in normal and hypertensive pregnancies. Aim: To measure the blood flow indices of umbilical artery using Doppler ultrasound in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and healthy pregnant women. Methods: This is a case control study at which 60 participants, 40 with PIH and 20 with normal pregnancy at the third trimester were studied in Al Najaf Governorate. Doppler ultrasound of umbilical artery was performed for both, the patient and the control groups in which Resistive Index (RI), Pulsatility Index (PI) and Systolic to Diastolic ratio (S/D ratio) were calculated. Results: The mean ±SD of RI, PI and S/D of the umbilical artery were 0.63±0.11, 0.97± 0.33 and 2.9±1.38 respectively in the PIH group, they were higher than those of the control group (0.62±0.06, 0.91± 0.17 and 2.72 ± 0.41 respectively) at 33-36 weeks. However, differences were found to be insignificant as well as they were higher at 37-40 weeks. Conclusion: There are insignificant elevations of indices of the umbilical artery in PIH women with respect to those of normal pregnancy.