Evaluation of Uterine artery indexes in Doppler sonography for predicting neonatal outcomes in preeclamptic pregnancies

preeclampsia is associated with various maternal and neonatal outcomes such as intra-uterine growth retardation, preterm labor and increased risk of fetal mortality. It seems that increased uterine vascular resistance is associated with higher risk of preeclampsia progression. This study was performed with aim to investigate uterine artery indexes in Doppler sonography for predicting neonatal outcome in preeclamptic pregnancies.
this prospective study was conducted on 46 pre-eclampsia and 74 normal pregnant women referred to Emam Reza and Omalbanin hospitals in 2014. Trans-abdominal Doppler sonography was conducted between 26-36 weeks of pregnancy at supine position and Doppler signals of uterine artery indexes were evaluated and after delivery, neonatal complications were added to the form of evaluation. Data was analyzed by SPSS software (version 16) and T-student, Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests. P The highest sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value for the mean Pulsatility index of uterine artery in women with preeclampsia in predicting of low birth weight infants were 51.7% and 90.9% and 93.7%, respectively. The highest sensitivity and positive predictive value of uterine artery resistance index in predicting of low birth weight infants were 62% and 94.7%, respectively. Also, mean uterine artery resistance index in prediction of all adverse pregnancy outcomes had high specificity.
Although uterine artery indexes in Doppler sonography has no high sensitivity to predict neonatal outcomes, but their abnormal range can predict low birth weight.