title: The use of uterine artery doppler as a predictive tool for adverse gestational outcomes in pregnant patients with autoimmune and thrombophilic disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify whether Doppler velocimetry on the uterine arteries can be used to single out abnormal hemodynamic adjustments in the uteroplacental district and to prognose adverse gestational outcomes in pregnant women with autoimmune and trombophilic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 67 patients divided into 3 groups selected by a developed pathology. Attention was given to the performance of the Resistance Index (RI) in Doppler velocimetry checks at 10th, 16th-18th, 21st and 28th weeks of gestation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant correlation between Doppler values at week 21st and development of preeclampsia was observed (p <0.05) in the three patient groups. High Doppler values at the 21st week were found to be strongly associated (p <0.01) with preterm delivery. We also observed a significant correlation (p <0.05) between high Doppler values at week 21st and low weight at birth. Doppler was found to have a predictive power for gestational adverse outcomes already at week 16th.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RI values of more than 0.58 (taken as a cut-off) at 16/18th weeks allowed us to identify the category most at risk, if confirmed at 21 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Advanced Therapies, Section of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Ferrara.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Capucci
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pivato
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carboni
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mossuto
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castellino
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Padovan
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Govoni
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marci
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patella