Color Doppler imaging of the uteroplacental circulation in the first trimester: value in predicting pregnancy failure or complication.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of color duplex Doppler sonography of the uteroplacental circulation in predicting the outcome of first-trimester gestations.


METHODS
One hundred women with viable pregnancies of 7 to 12 weeks' gestational age were prospectively evaluated. Color Doppler imaging was used to identify the location of blood flow within the uteroplacental circulation, and spectral Doppler imaging was used to analyze waveforms obtained from the decidual spiral arteries.


RESULTS
Abnormal color Doppler findings were associated with a significantly higher prevalence of complicated pregnancies. Among women with abnormal Doppler findings, 12 (43%) of 28 pregnancies ended in miscarriage, whereas among women with normal findings only one (1.4%) of 72 women miscarried (p < .005).


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that abnormal blood flow patterns of the early uteroplacental circulation are associated with an increased prevalence of pregnancy complications and that color Doppler imaging may be used to predict pregnancy outcome.
Jaffe
R
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY, USA.
Dorgan
A
A
Abramowicz
J S
JS
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021041:Placental Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014655:Vascular Resistance