Maternal cerebral Doppler velocimetry before, during, and after a normal pregnancy: a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine normative data for maternal cerebral blood flow indices. Study design. A prospective longitudinal study.


METHODS
The maternal middle cerebral artery was examined by transcranial Doppler ultrasound in 14 healthy women before (0-10 months prior to conception) and during pregnancy (at 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36 weeks of gestation), and twice after delivery (at 8 and 24 weeks). Middle cerebral artery blood flow velocities were recorded, and pulsatility index and cerebral perfusion pressure were calculated.


CONCLUSIONS
Pulsatility index of middle cerebral artery peaked in mid-pregnancy and was constantly increased between 8 and 29 weeks of gestation. The diastolic middle cerebral artery velocity remained fairly constant at about 40 cm/s during the study period, while the systolic velocity peaked at 15 weeks (mean 102 cm/s). Cerebral perfusion pressure dropped to its lowest levels in mid-pregnancy and after delivery.
Lindqvist
Pelle G
PG
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Science, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. Pelle.Lindqvist@med.lu.se
Marsál
Karel
K
Pirhonen
Jouko P
JP
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial