Are 'notched' uterine arterial waveforms of prognostic value for hypertensive and growth disorders of pregnancy?
In a case-control controlled study of 86 women identified as having bilaterally 'notched' uterine arterial waveform patterns at 18 weeks, the presence of bilateral 'notched' uterine arterial waveforms at that time was associated with the subsequent development of hypertension and small-for-gestational-age infants, but the predictive value was poor. For those women in whom the bilateral uterine 'notches' were observed to persist to 24 weeks, the relative risk of developing proteinuric hypertension increased 14 times, and in these women the positive predictive value for the subsequent development of hypertension increased to 58.6% when compared with their matched controls. The identification of women with persistent bilateral uterine 'notches' provides a means of identifying women at significant risk of hypertensive and growth disorders at a stage when therapeutic intervention aimed at limiting the severity of the disease and its associated complications could be commenced.
Mires
G J
GJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK.
Christie
A D
AD
Leslie
J
J
Lowe
E
E
Patel
N B
NB
Howie
P W
PW
D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*