Diagnostic and prognostic value of umbilical and cerebral Doppler velocimetry in intrauterine growth retardation]

The diagnostic and prognostic value of Doppler velocimetry in delayed intrauterine growth was investigated in a series of 105 abnormal pregnancies. The diagnostic value of the umbilical Doppler velocimetry, whether alone or combined with simultaneous exploration of the umbilical and cerebral vessels was very limited. In contrast, the simultaneous exploration of the umbilical and cerebral vessels was of considerable prognostic value, since with regard to the risk of fetal distress, the sensitivity was 86.6%, the specificity 80% and the positive predictive value 63%. The negative predictive value was 95% and the prevalence 28.5%. The authors' experience also confirms the prognostic seriousness of the absence of diastolic flow or of reverse flow (2 perinatal deaths out of 6 cases). The interval between the changes in Doppler velocimetry and fetal distress is variable, however, ranging from two days to three weeks or more in these cases.