Intrauterine growth restriction with abnormal umbilical artery Dopplers: a harbinger for preeclampsia?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether abnormal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry in the setting of unexplained intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is predictive of preeclampsia.


METHODS
This was a retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies diagnosed with unexplained IUGR between 2005 and 2008. Subjects were classified based on the presence or absence of abnormal Dopplers. The proportions of preeclampsia in the two groups were compared.


RESULTS
A total of 268 cases were included in the study. There were 57 cases with abnormal umbilical artery Dopplers. Of those, preeclampsia was diagnosed in 8 (14.0%) cases. In turn, there were 211 cases with normal Dopplers. Of those, preeclampsia was diagnosed in 9 (4.3%) cases. After controlling for age and parity, patients with abnormal Dopplers were 2.9 times more likely to be diagnosed with preeclampsia.


CONCLUSIONS
Cases of unexplained IUGR with abnormal umbilical artery Dopplers appear to be at increased risk of preeclampsia compared to those with normal Dopplers.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. fmirza@aub.edu.lb
Fadi G
FG
Mirza
William C
WC
Strohsnitter
Josue
J
Rivera
Cynthia
C
Gyamfi-Bannerman
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult