Doppler examination in the evaluation of outcomes in pregnancies complicated by gestational hypertension and fetal intrauterine growth retardation - Is it enough?

Abstract

Aim: The relations between abnormal umbilical and cerebral Doppler, cerebral-umbilical (C/U) ratio, and outcomes in pregnancies complicated by gestational hypertension and fetal intrauterine growth retardation were evaluated. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of 53 monofetal pregnancies in 2010 was conducted at the Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Belgrade. Statistical analysis: chi-square likelihood ratio test, Student's t-test and Spearman's coefficient correlation. Results: There was not a significant correlation between the timing of registration of abnormal umbilical Doppler to delivery and outcomes of high-risk pregnancies. There was a significant correlation between C/U ratio and APGAR-5 (p = 0.003). We found a significant correlation between neonatal birth weight and APGAR-5 (p = 0.000), neonatal asphyxia (p = 0.000), intracranial hemorrhage (p = 0.000) and respiratory distress syndrome (p = 0.000). Conclusion: Umbilical and cerebral artery Doppler is a relatively poor predictor of neonatal outcome. It seems that neonatal birth weight is the best predictor of neonatal outcome in high-risk pregnancies.