Risk assessment of preeclampsia in advanced maternal age by uterine arteries Doppler at 17-21 weeks of gestation.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the risk of preeclampsia development in elderly gravidarum by uterine arteries Doppler at 17-21 weeks' gestation.


METHODS
Pulsatility index (PI) of the uterine arteries was measured by color Doppler transabdominal sonography in 298 elderly gravida women at 17-21 weeks of gestation. The criterion for abnormal results was PI > 95th percentile of each gestational age and/or the presence of bilateral notches. The major end point was preeclampsia.


RESULTS
Ten woman (3.4%) developed preeclampsia. Two hundred and eighty-four women (95.3%) had a normal Doppler flow of uterine arteries (PI < or =95th percentile of each gestational age), and 14 woman (4.7%) had abnormal Doppler flow of uterine arteries. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for detecting preeclampsia were 20%, 95.8%, 14.3%, and 97.2%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with mean PI > 95th of each gestational age have a high risk of developing preeclampsia. With the high negative predictive value, this test may be useful to minimize unnecessary interventions.
Sritippayawan
Suchila
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Rama IV Rd, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Phupong
Vorapong
V
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology