The prognostic role of uterine artery Doppler studies in patients with late-onset preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the usefulness of uterine artery Doppler in the prediction of outcome in patients with late-onset preeclampsia.


METHODS
Patients with late-onset preeclampsia underwent Doppler interrogation of the uterine arteries. Patients with abnormal uterine artery Doppler were compared with those who had a normal uterine artery Doppler.


RESULTS
Ninety-nine patients were included in the study group. Abnormal uterine artery Doppler group presented significantly lower gestational age at admission (36.1 +/- 2.1 weeks vs 37.2 +/- 1.9 weeks; P < .005), lower gestational age at delivery (36.5 +/- 1.9 weeks vs 37.7 +/- 1.7 weeks; P < .005), lower birthweight (2429 +/- 590 g vs 3013 +/- 597 g; P < .0001), and a higher admission rate to neonatal intensive care unit (17/51 vs 6/48; odds ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-9.5). No significant difference in the occurrence of maternal complications (10/51 vs 6/48; odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-4.9) was registered.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with late-onset preeclampsia show a higher risk of perinatal complications if uterine resistance is increased although maternal outcome does not seem to be related to Doppler findings.
Ghi
Tullio
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Youssef
Aly
A
Piva
Michela
M
Contro
Elena
E
Segata
Maria
M
Guasina
Francesca
F
Gabrielli
Sandro
S
Rizzo
Nicola
N
Pelusi
Giuseppe
G
Pilu
Gianluigi
G
D000328:Adult; D000873:Anthracenes; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011379:Prognosis; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*
D000873:Anthracenes; C103042:gasteriacenone A