title: Fetal cerebral circulation assessment by Doppler ultrasound in normal and pathological pregnancies.
abstract: During normal pregnancies (n = 40) the cerebral index (Rc = S - D/S) (with S = systolic and D-telediastolic amplitudes) is always higher than the placental index (Rp), and the cerebro/placental ratio (Rc/Rp) greater than 1. Of 29 pregnant women with hypertension (including two twins), 17 delivered normally (Rc, Rp and CPR normal), 14 delivered an hypotrophic fetus, in 12 out of these 14 pregnancies one of the two indices (Rc or Rp) was abnormal and the cerebro/placental ratio, CPR, was always less or equal to 1. CPR sensitivity was 86% the specificity 100%. In 11 pregnancies with idiopathic fetal-growth retardation, the CPR was less or equal to 1 in eight cases (73% of the cases), and greater than 1 in three cases (three false-negative results).
authors.affiliation: Unité INSERM 316, Faculté de Médecine, C.H.R. Bretonneau, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arbeille
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Body
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saliba
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tranquart
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roncin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pourcelot
mesh_terms: D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000175:diagnosis; D005333:Fetus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014655:Vascular Resistance