Renal artery flow-velocity waveforms in normal and hypoxemic fetuses.
Color flow mapping was used to identify the fetal renal artery and to obtain flow-velocity waveforms. A reference range of the fetal renal artery pulsatility index with gestation was constructed from a cross-sectional study of 114 appropriate for gestational age fetuses of 17 to 43 weeks' gestation. The pulsatility index decreased linearly with gestation, indicating a fall in impedance to flow, and presumably an increase in renal perfusion. The renal artery pulsatility index was also determined in 18 small-for-gestational-age fetuses and was higher than the appropriate-for-gestational-age group. The small-for-gestational-age fetuses also had fetal blood sampling performed by cordocentesis. A significant, direct correlation was found between blood oxygen deficit and increased renal artery pulsatility index.
Vyas
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S
Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Nicolaides
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KH
Campbell
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S
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011674:Pulse; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000196:embryology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography