Fetal venous parameters measured through Doppler ultrasound (DUS) appear to be closely correlated with clinical outcomes in high-risk pregnancies, such as those with complicated hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN), according to a recently published study in Frontiers in Pediatrics.
DUS is a noninvasive procedure that can measure blood flow through arteries and veins in almost every part of the body. It detects the sound waves of red blood cells ( RBCs ) that circulate in venous and arterial blood vessels to produce images. The test does not produce any of the complications produced by radiation or invasive procedures.
“Uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography can be used to screen for adverse pregnancy outcomes in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy according to extensive studies conducted over the past 20 years,” the authors wrote.
Learn more about HDFN testing and diagnosis
However, there is scarce literature regarding the correlation between changes in uteroplacental and fetal circulation and perinatal outcomes. Therefore, the authors aimed to find a correlation between DUS fetal indexes and pregnancy outcomes.
The authors included 60 pregnant patients in the study; the patients were divided into a high-risk group, including patients with conditions such as pre-eclampsia, arterial hypertension, diabetes, age greater than 35, and renal illness.
The authors found abnormalities in the uterine artery in over 70% of high-risk pregnancies. However, there was no correlation between these abnormalities and perinatal outcomes. However, there was a direct correlation between uterine vein abnormalities, abnormal neonatal weight, and neonatal death. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) abnormalities were also associated with complications such as NICU admission, fetal death, and low weight at birth.
“Predicting unfavorable perinatal outcomes in high-risk obstetric patients using a noninvasive hemodynamic Doppler monitoring approach is now possible,” the authors wrote. “Doppler imaging is more sensitive for early identification of fetal problems with subsequent perinatal outcomes compared to several other methods of prenatal evaluation.”
