title: Doppler velocimetric indices from the abdominal and placental ends of the umbilical artery of growth-restricted fetuses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In normal pregnancies, as gestation advances, a progressive decrease is observed in the differences between Doppler indices recorded at the 2 extremities of the umbilical cord. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the same pattern is observed in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven fetuses with sonographic diagnosis of IUGR underwent investigation by Doppler sonography. Blood flow velocities were measured at the abdominal and placental ends of the umbilical cord. The systolic-diastolic ratio, pulsatility index, and resistance index were calculated for each site. The differences in values between the 2 ends of the cord were calculated (abdominal end minus placental end) and then compared with the differences calculated for normal fetuses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In contrast to normal fetuses, IUGR fetuses with abnormal Doppler measurements had significant differences in the pulsatility and resistance indices between the 2 ends of the cord after 28 weeks of gestation. In addition, when compared with normal fetuses, the IUGR fetuses had a significantly greater difference in the values for the 2 ends of the cord for all indices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results emphasize the importance of identifying the sampling site for serial Doppler investigations in IUGR-complicated pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sainte-Justine Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Skoll
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fouron
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Sonesson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nyctelius
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lessard
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Drblik
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000098:blood supply*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology / Q000503:physiopathology*