title: Are there any relationships between umbilical artery Pulsatility Index and macrosomia in fetuses of type I diabetic mothers?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish whether there are relationships between umbilical artery Pulsatility Index (PI) and fetal macrosomia in pregnancies complicated by type I diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective observational study, 102 singleton pregnant women with type I diabetes were considered. Umbilical artery PI was measured by Doppler ultrasonography within one week from delivery and related to neonatal weight. Pregnancies were grouped according to birtweight in macrosomic group (≥4000 g) and normal growth group (<4000 g). Relationships between umbilical artery PI and birth weight and birth weight centile were tested by Pearson's correlation analysis. Further umbilical artery PI values were compared between macrosomic and normally grown fetuses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Birth weight was ≥4000 g in 24 pregnancies (23.5%). A significant relationship was found between umbilical artery PI and neonatal weight (r = 0.512; p < 0.01) and neonatal weight centile (r = 0.400; p < 0.01). Umbilical artery PI were significantly lower (t = -6.013; p < 0.001) in the macrosomic group (0.78; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.73-0.84) than in the normal growth group (1.00; 95% CI 0.97-1.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In pregnancies complicated by type I diabetes there is a significant relationship between umbilical artery PI value before delivery and absolute birth weight and birth weight centile. Macrosomic fetuses show a significant reduction in umbilical artery PI when compared with diabetic pregnancies without fetal overgrowth.
authors.affiliation: High Risk Pregnancy Centre, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Federico II Naples , Naples , Italy and.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Maruotti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sirico
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sarno
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cirigliano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arduini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martinelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Doppler ultrasound; macrosomia; pregnancy; type I diabetes; umbilical artery