title: Biophysical profile scores and resistance indices of the umbilical artery as seen in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of Biophysical Profile Score and resistive index of the umbilical artery for monitoring pre-eclampsia patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kenyatta National Hospital and Mater Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and ten cases during a three month period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normal biophysical profile scores were found in 93 (84.5%), and 17 (17.5%) cases had abnormal scores ranging from mild to severe foetal distress. Resistive index of umbilical artery (RI-UA) were normal in 72 (66.1%) and high resistive index accounted for 33.9%. Intra-Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) was a prominent finding accounting for 30.5%. A positive relationship was shown to exist between IUGR and RI-UA and also with severity of hypertension with P-values < 0.05. Resistive index of umbilical artery was positively related to the duration of illness confirming its dependence on chronicity (P = 0.004). Resistive index of umbilical artery proved to be an earlier indicator of foetal compromise before any foetal distress becomes obvious.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regular obstetrical ultra sound foetal surveillance in pre-eclampsia patients is important for foetal wellbeing. Doppler evaluation of high risk patients is more sensitive test than the biophysical profile score.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Nguku
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wanyoike-Gichuhi
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aywak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D007630:Kenya; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*