The significance of intracardiac Doppler sonography in terms of fetal growth retardation

Introduction

The proper function of the fetal heart is indispensable for the fetal development and the normal fetal growth. For prenatal medicine, Doppler sonography offers the possibility of a non-invasive method to examine the fetal cardiovascular function under normal and pathological circumstances. The role of the Doppler sonography is to identify those fetuses who have a high risk factor for developing a pre- or intrapartual asphyxia and therefore have to be delivered promptly. This study aimed at evaluating the clinical value of the intracardiac Doppler sonography (IDS) and at scrutinizing its usefulness during the supervision of the pregnancy of intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) fetuses.

Materials and methods

In a prospective research at the Medical School of Hanover, fetal IDS was applied to 174 pregnant women between the 21 and 37 weeks of gestation (WG). The e-wave and the a-wave, the E/A ratio, and the TVI (time velocity integral) were measured at the atrioventricular (AV) valves. The PV (peak velocity) as well as the TVI were determined at both the aortic and the pulmonary valve. Normal range curves were compiled for all measured parameters.

Results

Alongside a control group with untroubled gravidity, which consisted of 153 patients, IUGR fetuses, who formed a collective of 21 patients, were Doppler sonographically examined.While the gestational age advanced, an increase of both the e-wave and the a-wave above the AV-valves could be ascertained, which lead to an E/A ratio <1. Above the semilunar valves there was indicated a slight steady increase of the TPV, the PV as well as the TVI. Normal range curves, which largely correspond to those described in the literature, were compiled for the collective of the pregnancies without pathological findings (n = 153). In comparison to the standard collective, there were no significant differences from the collective of the growth restricted fetuses (n = 21).

Conclusion

A temporal informational advantage of pathological intracardiac Doppler values for high risk pregnancies (IUGR) could not be retraced in the examined collective.Doppler sonography traces acute and chronic deficits, which are indicated by hemodynamic changes of the fetus’s blood supply. The clinical importance of IDS as regards dystrophic fetuses has to be ascertained in continuative studies: In the stage of compensatory placental insufficiency (IUGR, arterial Doppler without ARED-flow, venous Doppler without pathological findings) the IDS cannot provide an informational advantage. Contrastingly, the diagnostic potential of the IDS as a screening method of fetal cardiac insufficiency during decompensative placental insufficiency (IUGR, arterial Doppler with ARED-flow, venous Doppler normal or pathological) remains indistinct and should therefore be prospectively evaluated within this high risk group and contrastingly compared to the significance of the venous Doppler sonography (informational advantage?).

     

Mid-trimester uterine artery Doppler ultrasound as a predictor of adverse obstetric outcome in high-risk pregnancy

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography efficiency in prediction of adverse pregnancy outcome in high-risk pregnancies.Materials and MethodsWe selected 70 pregnant women who were high risk for development of preeclampsia, abruption, low birth weight (LBW), and preterm delivery during their pregnancy, and Doppler ultrasonography was performed for them in 18–24 gestational weeks for evaluation of uterine artery notching. Absence of diastolic flow in uterine artery waves was defined as notching. The women were divided into two groups: with notching (Group A) and without notching (Group B), then they were compared for complications such as preeclampsia, abruption, LBW, and preterm delivery.ResultsIn 70 high-risk pregnant women, 27 women (39.2%) were in Group A and the others were in Group B. The birth weight in Groups A and B was 2,897.5 ± 757.15 and 3,248.39 ± 374.27, respectively. In our study, 15 patients were delivered before 37 gestational weeks (preterm labor). Preeclampsia, abruption, and LBW were significantly higher in the group with positive notching, but preterm delivery did not show any statistical difference between the two groups.ConclusionAccording to the results, uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography had high negative predictive value for prediction of preeclampsia, abruption, and LBW. Therefore, absence of uterine artery notching in mid-trimester evaluation of high-risk pregnant women may predict better pregnancy outcome. We recommend Doppler ultrasonography for all high-risk pregnant women in second trimester for prediction of pregnancy outcome.     

Use of Transcranial and Orbital Doppler Sonography in Normal Pregnancy and Pre-eclampsia: a Review

The application of Doppler ultrasound to the study of pregnant women has advanced our knowledge of the physiologic and pathologic changes in the cerebral circulation during pregnancy. Of all of the pathologic cerebrovascular conditions of pregnancy, Doppler techniques have most frequently been applied to the study and definition of pre-eclampsia. This review represents a collection of most of the published work on the use of transcranial and orbital Doppler sonography in the evaluation of the cerebral circulation in normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia.     

Calcium level during the first trimester of pregnancy as a predictor of preeclampsia

Objective: To examine the association between calcium levels during the first trimester of pregnancy and preeclampsia. Methods: The study population included registered births (n?=?5233) in a tertiary medical center between 2001 and 2011. A comparison was performed between women with and without hypocalcemia during the first trimester of pregnancy. A second analysis was performed after correcting calcium levels for albumin. Multiple logistic regression models were used to control for confounders. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis graphs were used to describe the relationship between the true-positive rate (sensitivity) and the false-positive rate for different values of calcium during the first half of pregnancy in the prediction of preeclampsia. Results: Of 5233 deliveries, 841 (16%) had hypocalcemia and 4392 (84%) had a normal calcium level. No significant difference were found between the groups regarding mild preeclampsia [odds ratio (OR) = 1.216; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.831–1.779; p?=?0.312], severe preeclampsia (OR?=?1.618; 95% CI 0.919–2.849; p?=?0.092) and any hypertensive disorders (OR?=?1.324; 95% CI 0.963–1.821; p?=?0.083). Conclusions: Hypocalcemia during the first trimester of pregnancy is not a risk factor for preeclampsia.     

The role of transvaginal colour Doppler sonography in evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding

Introduction Treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding understands a prompt diagnostic procedure, for the sake of defining the etiological factor of disease. The abnormal uterine bleeding is more common in the perimenopausal than in the postmenopausal women, and it is more frequent sign of an endometrial proliferative or hyperplastic changes. Fewer percentages of women with unexpected and/or acyclic and prolonged bleeding have endometrial cancer.Materials and methods Seventy-one (71) patients with abnormal uterine bleeding, older than 40 years, of which 10 were in post-menopause, have been tested. Prior to explorative curettage and histopathological analysis, ultrasonographic and hemodynamic studies, at the uterine blood vessels level (uterine artery bilaterally) had been performed by transvaginal colour Doppler method.Results Histopathological results indicated four types of represented changes, on the basis of how the patients were divided into the groups: I, proliferative endometrium—20 patients; II, endometrial adenocarcinoma—23 patients; III, various forms of endometrial hyperplasia—26 patients, IV, atrophic endometrium—2 patients. Significant statistical difference in the endometrial thickness was established between groups I and II, and endometrial cancer was not found in less than 8 mm thick endometrium. By analysing hemodynamic parameters, significantly lower PI values were obtained in the group of patients with pathologically altered endometrium, compared to other groups.Conclusion Transvaginal colour Doppler has significant role in the diagnostic process for evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Doppler sonography can help in differentiating physiological from malignant endometrial changes and in deciding on the most efficient therapeutical regime.     

The role of serum markers and uterine artery Doppler in identifying at-risk pregnancies

Measures of placental dysfunction, including maternal serum analytes and Doppler studies, have been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, although the predictive ability of any single one is poor. Improved knowledge of the multifactorial nature of many of the adverse outcomes of pregnancy has sparked interest in the use of multi-parameter models that combine maternal serum analytes with measures of placental structure and blood flow. The combination of various first-trimester and second-trimester analytes and uterine artery Doppler screening show promise as potential screening tools, but large prospective studies are needed to further define their role in clinical practice.     

An integrated model for the prediction of preeclampsia using maternal factors and uterine artery Doppler velocimetry in unselected low-risk women

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a predictive model for preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective screening study for preeclampsia using uterine artery Doppler ultrasound in unselected low-risk singleton pregnancies at community hospitals in the UK (n = 32,157). Logistic regression models were developed and their predictive ability assessed using the area under the receiver operator curve (AROC). RESULTS: Six hundred twelve (2.0%) women developed preeclampsia, and 144 (0.5%) required early delivery (<34 weeks). A model using both maternal and ultrasound factors had an AROC of 0.798, which was higher than ultrasound alone (0.729, P < .0001) or maternal factors alone (0.712, P < .0001). In early onset disease, the ROC of ultrasound alone (0.922) was not significantly improved by adding maternal predictors (0.945, P = .27). In contrast, late onset disease was better predicted by the combined model (AROC 0.798) than ultrasound alone (AROC 0.729, P < .0001) or maternal factors alone (AROC 0.712, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: The combination of uterine artery Doppler ultrasound and maternal factors provided the best estimate of risk.     

经阴道彩色多普勒评价促排卵时卵泡质量的研究

目的 探讨经阴道彩色多普勒超声检测卵泡周围血流情况,在评价控制性超促排卵（COH）周期卵泡发育成熟及妊娠结局中的价值。方法 接受IVF或卵胞浆内精子注射治疗的66个周期,在注射HCG日行阴道彩色多普勒超声测量双侧卵巢内每一个直径≥12mm的卵泡周围血流的各项参数。结果 未妊娠组卵泡周围血流阻力指数（RI）、收缩期峰流速/舒张末期血流速度（S/D）值显著高于妊娠组。当RI〈0.49时妊娠率、受精率、卵裂率、MⅡ卵细胞数均显著较高。卵泡周围动脉RI与卵泡直径无相关性。结论 检测卵泡周围血流有助于评价辅助生育技术促排卵治疗时卵泡的质量,是预测妊娠结局的有效指标。     

Discordant uterine artery velocity waveforms as a predictor of subsequent miscarriage in early viable pregnancies

Objective: Our purpose was to determine whether an abnormal uterine perfusion pattern was associated with subsequent pregnancy loss after fetal cardiac activity was documented. Study Design: Pulsatility indexes of both the right and left uterine arteries were obtained by transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography in 318 consecutive viable pregnancies between 6 and 12 weeks’ gestation. The Δ uterine artery pulsatility index value, expressed as the highest uterine artery pulsatility index value minus the lowest value, was calculated for each pregnancy. Women were subsequently classified as having continuing pregnancies or pregnancy loss before 20 weeks’ gestation. To predict subsequent pregnancy loss, Doppler findings were adjusted for maternal age, history of previous abortion, presence of subchorionic hematoma, embryonic bradycardia, and gestational age by means of multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results : Twenty-four pregnancies (8%) were spontaneously aborted before 20 weeks’ gestation. Both Δ uterine artery pulsatility index (odds ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.5-5.8) and history of previous abortion (odds ratio 3.1, 95% confidence interval 1.2-8.2) were significantly associated with pregnancy loss in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The sensitivity and specificity of the multivariate logistic regression model to predict abortion were 75% and 85%, respectively, significantly higher than the diagnostic performances of qualitative and quantitative variables considered individually. Conclusion : Discordant uterine artery pulsatility indexes in the first trimester were strongly associated with subsequent pregnancy loss. This suggests that uterine ischemia may be implicated in certain cases of early pregnancy loss after documentation of fetal cardiac activity during the first trimester. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1998;179:1587-93.)     

Second trimester uterine artery Doppler ultrasound as a screening test for adverse pregnancy outcome

One main goal of antenatal care is to improve the outcome of pregnancy in terms of perinatal morbidity and perinatal mortality by identifying women at risk of complications such as preeclampsia, intrauterine growth retardation, placental abruption and intrauterine death. The association between pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth retardation and increased uterine artery resistance measured by Doppler ultrasound has been described and subsequently color Doppler waveform analysis of the uterine arteries has been used as a screening test for adverse pregnancy outcome. The results were conflicting and often disappointing due to differences in gestational age at the time of examination in the selected study populations and due to a lack of standardized analysis of the uterine artery waveform. In low-risk populations uterine artery Doppler waveform analysis remains a test with relatively low positive predictive values reflecting the low prevalence of pregnancy complications in an unselected population. Patients with bilateral notching at 24 weeks of gestation represent a group at risk for preeclampsia, intrauterine growth retardation and adverse pregnancy outcome.     

Endometrial thickness and the Doppler sonographic parameters of the uterine arteries as discriminators of endometrial status in postmenopausal women receiving anti-hypertensive treatment

AIM: The aim of the present study was to establish the Doppler sonographic parameters of the uterine arteries in postmenopausal patients with or without hypertension and to determine the value of their measurement in the prediction of endometrial pathology. METHODS: Healthy postmenopausal women (n = 23) and the ones receiving anti-hypertensive medication (n = 34) examined for both endometrial thickness and Doppler velocimetry of the uterine arteries by transvaginal sonography. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between endometrial thickness and uterine artery Doppler sonographic parameters in hypertensive postmenopausal women compared to normotensive controls. CONCLUSION: The role of Doppler examination in the differential diagnosis of endometrial pathology in patients with or without hypertension seemed not to be effective.     

A quantitative investigation of hemodynamic adaptation to pregnancy using uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography and finger photoplethysmography

Objective: Normal pregnancy is characterized by maternal hemodynamic adaptations of cardiovascular system and uterine artery. We aimed to investigate quantitatively the relationship between uterine artery Doppler (Ut AD) ultrasonography and finger photoplethysmography (PPG) in each of the three trimesters. Methods: Eighty normal pregnancy subjects were recruited from the nulliparous women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancy presenting for a routine ultrasound scan and divided into three groups according to their trimester. Comparative analysis were conducted between Ut AD ultrasonography and finger PPG within and across trimesters, particularly with focus on the relationship between Uterine Artery Resistance Index (UtA RI) and photoplethysmographic reflection index (PPG RI) throughout pregnancy. Additional 10 preeclampsia patients in third trimester were enrolled for comparison. Results: Both UtA RI and PPG RI were markedly decreased with gestation in normal pregnancy and generally consistent with each other in trend. The preeclampsia patients of third trimester were significantly higher in both indices, even more than normal pregnancy subjects of first trimester. Conclusions: The results of this study revealed clear relationship between UtA RI and PPG RI throughout pregnancy which could be exploited to enhance the potential ability in early recognition of pathophysiologic process in maternal adaptation and prediction of complicated pregnancy.     

经阴道彩色多普勒超声对子宫内膜癌肌层浸润程度的探讨

目的:探讨术前经阴道彩色多普勒超声(TVCDS)判断子宫内膜癌肌层浸润程度的准确性及临床应用价值。方法:对51例术前行TVCDS检查、经手术病理证实为临床Ⅰ期的子宫内膜癌患者进行分析,根据二维图像特点和病灶内部及周围肌层的彩色血流情况,判断其肌层浸润程度,并与术后病理结果进行对照分析。结果: 51例患者术前超声均能正确诊断,超声判断子宫内膜癌肌层浸润总符合率为72 55% (37 /51),浅肌层浸润符合率为69 .23% (18 /26),深肌层浸润的符合率为82. 35% (14 /17 )。结论:TVCDS能较准确地协助诊断子宫内膜癌并判断肌层浸润深度,为术前判断肌层浸润程度提供了有效途径。     

Doppler sonography of the fetal venous circulation

Venous Doppler sonography has been used for assessment of the fetal hemodynamics in the last 15 years. The velocimetries of the central fetal veins — umbilical vein (UV), ductus venosus (DV), hepatic veins (HV) and inferior vena cava (IVC) — reflect the cardiac function and its impairment due to changes in cardiac preload or afterload, and due to changes in the cardiac rhythm. It is possible to see the severity of the disturbance in cardiac function and venous Doppler is broadly used in the surveillance of pregnancies, which are disturbed by severe placental insufficiency, cardiac defects, arrhythmias, anemia, hydrops fetalis and hyper- or hypovolemia as in twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Herein we summarize the past, present and eventual future developments of venous Doppler sonography, reflecting the physiology and pathophysiology of the fetal venous circulation and describing the state of the art of its clinical application.     

The role of uterine artery Doppler in predicting adverse pregnancy outcome

The complications of placental insufficiency, pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction (FGR) are major causes of perinatal as well as maternal morbidity and mortality. In normal pregnancy, impedance to flow in the uterine arteries decreases with gestation, and histopathological studies suggest that this is due to trophoblastic invasion of the spiral arteries and their conversion into low-resistance vessels. Failure of trophoblastic invasion is associated with complications of uteroplacental insufficiency. Several Doppler screening studies, both in the second and more recently in the first trimester of pregnancy, have demonstrated an association between increased impedance to flow in the uterine arteries and subsequent development of pre-eclampsia, FGR and perinatal death.     

Comparison of transvaginal sonography, saline infusion sonography and hysteroscopy in the evaluation of uterine cavity pathologies

AIMS: To determine whether performing transvaginal sonography (TVS) and saline infusion sonography (SIS) before hysteroscopy could reduce the number of diagnostic hysteroscopies performed for the evaluation of uterine cavity abnormalities. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty three women with suspected uterine cavity abnormalities were prospectively evaluated by TVS, SIS and hysteroscopy, and had histological evaluation of the endometrium with hysteroscopic biopsy or dilatation and curettage (D&C). One hundred and sixty five patients (74%) were premenopausal and 58 patients (26%) were postmenopausal. RESULTS: The positive predictive value (PPV) for endometrial polyps was 69% for TVS, 78% for SIS and 81% for hysteroscopy in premenopausal patients. In the postmenopausal group, TVS and SIS could detect only 24% of endometrial polyps, whereas 70% were diagnosed by hysteroscopy. The PPV for submucous fibroids was 47% for TVS, 81% for SIS and 77% for hysteroscopy in the premenopausal group. CONCLUSIONS: In premenopausal patients, SIS and hysteroscopy are equally accurate in the diagnosis of endometrial polyps and submucous fibroids. Hysteroscopy is the most accurate test for polypoid lesions in the postmenopausal group. Performing TVS, SIS and D&C could reduce the number of diagnostic hysteroscopies performed for the evaluation of uterine cavity abnormalities by 71.5% in premenopausal patients. However, this rate decreases to 40% in the postmenopausal group.     

Women's perception of transvaginal sonography in the first trimester; in an early pregnancy assessment unit

The objective of this study was to gauge women views of transvaginal sonography in an emergency setting and to study any correlation between their perception of the procedure and their prior knowledge and experience of it. We surveyed women presenting with various complications of the first trimester. Only women who had transvaginal sonography and who gave informed consent were included. Four hundred and twenty-five women were recruited. Transvaginal sonography was considered not embarrassing, acceptable, not painful and not stressful by 378 (88.9%), 417 (98.1%), 419 (98.6%) and 385 (90.6%) of the women respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in the women's perception of the procedure whether they had prior knowledge and previous experience of the procedure or not. The majority of the women perceived transvaginal sonography favourably. Their perception of the procedure was favourable whether they had prior knowledge and previous experience of it or not.     

The HCG ratio as a predictor of pregnancy outcome in assisted conception cycles

ObjectiveTo determine whether the HCG ratio can be used to predict pregnancy viability in patients undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment.Design and settingsThis was a prospective observational study conducted in a private assisted conception unit.Subjects and methodsThe patients recruited had one either a long luteal agonist protocol, a short agonist protocol, or an antagonist protocol. All patients had a maximum of three embryos transferred per cycle. Pregnancy detection was by routine serum HCG measurement on day 14 after oocyte retrieval (HCG 0) followed by another HCG sample 48h later (HCG 48). Patients with an initial positive HCG had a transvaginal ultrasound 14days later to determine viability.ResultsThree hundred and twenty patients were included in the study. We used receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis to predict the ability of HCG measured at 14days (HCG 0), HCG measured at 16days (HCG 48) after oocyte retrieval as well as the HCG ratio (HCG 48/HCG 0) to predict pregnancy viability as well as to predict multiple pregnancy. The HCG ratio with an optimal cut-off of 1.82 had a sensitivity of 97.6%, a specificity of 98.2% and an area under the ROC curve of 98% in the prediction of pregnancy viability. In the prediction of multiple pregnancy the HCG ratio had an optimal cut-off of 2.06 with a sensitivity of 94.5% and a specificity of only 35.6% and an area under of only the ROC curve of 64%. However, the HCG 0 with a cut-off value of 118.56mIU/ml (sensitivity 97%, specificity 96.5%) and the HCG 48 with a cut-off value of 258.16mIU/ml (sensitivity 97.2%, specificity 99.4%) were shown to be accurate in predicting a viable intrauterine multiple pregnancy with an area under the ROC curve of 97% and 99%, respectively.ConclusionThe HCG ratio with a cut-off value of 1.82 can be used to predict pregnancy viability in assisted conception cycles. Also HCG measured 14 and 16days after oocyte retrieval with a cut-off value of 118.56mIU/ml and 258mIU/ml can be used to predict viable multiple pregnancy.     

Nuchal translucency as a predictor of adverse pregnancy outcome.

BACKGROUND: Thickened nuchal translucency (NT) has been related to fetal genetic syndromes, structural abnormalities, and other diseases. The aim of this research was to evaluate the association of NT with adverse pregnancy outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: In the period 2002-2004 in 2104 pregnant women between 10+6 and 13+5 weeks' gestation, NT was evaluated as a parameter for aneuploidy screening: out of these, 734 singleton pregnant women that underwent 2nd trimester amniocentesis and whose pregnancy outcome were known were selected. NT was statistically correlated to pregnancy and neonatal outcome. RESULTS: Median gestational age (GA) at NT evaluation was 11+2 weeks' gestation. NT median was 1.1 mm (0.9-1.4 mm, 25th-75th centile, range 0.5-4.0 mm). After multiple logistic regressions, the variables significantly associated to NT values were: threatened preterm labor (p<0.008) and preterm labor (p<0.02). The best diagnostic accuracy point was NT>95th centile and >1.5 MoM for the prediction of threatened preterm labor. CONCLUSION: In this series, increased NT values were associated to threatened preterm labor and preterm labor in euploid fetuses: this finding may have clinical consequences in the management of such pregnancies.     

Biophysical interaction between blood pressure and uterine artery Doppler for the occurrence of early-onset preeclampsia: A prospective cohort study

ObjectivesWe evaluated the biological interaction between blood pressure (BP) and uterine artery Doppler (UAD) in the second trimester for early-onset preeclampsia (EO-PE) risk.Study designA prospective cohort study.Main outcome measuresIn 2410 pregnant women, mean pulsatility index (mPI) and mean notch depth index (mNDI) were examined by UAD at 16–23 weeks’ gestation. We defined EO-PE as PE with onset at <34 weeks, abnormal UAD as coexistence of mPI ? 90th percentile and mNDI ? 90th percentile, and high BP as systolic BP/diastolic BP ? 120/80 mmHg. Abnormal UAD and high BP were combined as a series of dummy variables, and were entered into a logistic regression model. The relative excess risk due to biological interaction (RERI) was calculated using the following equation: RERI = odds ratio (OR) in women with both high BP and abnormal UAD – OR in women with high BP alone – OR in women with abnormal UAD alone +1. RERI ? 10 was considered as strong.ResultsEO-PE and late-onset PE (LO-PE) occurred in 1.1% and 1.2%, respectively. Adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) in women with abnormal UAD alone, high BP alone, and both high BP and abnormal UAD for predicting EO-PE was 4.3 (0.37–49), 12 (2.6–55) and 85 (17–422), respectively; and that for predicting LO-PE was 6.3 (1.5–27), 6.1 (2.1–17) and 15 (3.6–61), respectively. The RERI for EO-PE and LO-PE was 70 and 3.3, respectively.ConclusionHigh BP and abnormal UAD may have a strong biological interaction for the occurrence of EO-PE.