title: In vivo assessment of failed trophoblastic invasion of the spiral arteries in pre-eclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the ability of colour/pulsed Doppler ultrasound to detect failed physiologic change of the spiral arteries in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective matched-pairs case controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen women with severe pre-eclampsia and 16 normotensive controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Colour/pulsed Doppler assessment of blood flow in the uterine arteries and spiral arteries in central and peripheral parts of the placental bed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Impedance to blood flow in the spiral arteries in pre-eclamptic group compared with normotensive controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In women with pre-eclampsia there is significantly higher impedance to blood flow in spiral arteries compared with normotensive women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound colour/pulsed Doppler based investigation of blood flow in the spiral arteries in ongoing pregnancy can detect failed physiological change of these vessels in pre-eclampsia. This is in concordance with histologic data.
authors.affiliation: University of Manchester Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Mary's Hospital, Whitworth Park.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matijevic
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply*; D010929:Placentation / Q000502:physiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D018617:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014655:Vascular Resistance