Doppler sonographic study of fetal brachial and umbilical artery blood flow during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fetal brachial artery resistance index (RI), its changes throughout gestation, and its relationship to the umbilical artery RI.


METHODS
One hundred fifty-four sonographic examinations of the brachial and umbilical arteries in 71 fetuses were performed between 12 and 40 weeks' gestational age in 71 women with normal pregnancies. For each week of gestational age, the mean, standard deviation, range, and t-distribution 95% confidence interval of the fetal brachial artery RI were calculated.


RESULTS
The fetal brachial artery RI, although relatively lower at the beginning of gestation, showed a pattern of high resistance, with a slight increase until term, whereas the fetal umbilical artery RI decreased progressively.


CONCLUSIONS
The brachial artery RI is high in normal fetuses with good oxygenation. Umbilical artery RIs showed a progressive decrease until the end of term.
Morales-Roselló
J
J
Clinica Morales, Avenida Pais Valenciano 62, No. 4, Torrente 46900, Valencia, Spain.
D000328:Adult; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology