The prognostic role of uterine artery Doppler studies in patients with late-onset preeclampsia
Received 18 September 2008; received in revised form 20 December 2008; accepted 26 February 2009. published online 20 April 2009.
Objective
To evaluate the usefulness of uterine artery Doppler in the prediction of outcome in patients with late-onset preeclampsia.
Study Design
Patients with late-onset preeclampsia underwent Doppler interrogation of the uterine arteries. Patients with abnormal uterine artery Doppler were compared with those who had a normal uterine artery Doppler.
Results
Ninety-nine patients were included in the study group. Abnormal uterine artery Doppler group presented significantly lower gestational age at admission (36.1 ± 2.1 weeks vs 37.2 ± 1.9 weeks; P < .005), lower gestational age at delivery (36.5 ± 1.9 weeks vs 37.7 ± 1.7 weeks; P < .005), lower birthweight (2429 ± 590 g vs 3013 ± 597 g; P < .0001), and a higher admission rate to neonatal intensive care unit (17/51 vs 6/48; odds ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-9.5). No significant difference in the occurrence of maternal complications (10/51 vs 6/48; odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-4.9) was registered.
Conclusion
Women with late-onset preeclampsia show a higher risk of perinatal complications if uterine resistance is increased although maternal outcome does not seem to be related to Doppler findings.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Cite this article as: Ghi T, Youssef A, Piva M, et al. The prognostic role of uterine artery Doppler studies in patients with late-onset preeclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;201:36.e1-5.
ABSTRACT