title: A quantitative investigation of hemodynamic adaptation to pregnancy using uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography and finger photoplethysmography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Normal pregnancy is characterized by maternal hemodynamic adaptations of cardiovascular system and uterine artery. We aimed to investigate quantitatively the relationship between uterine artery Doppler (Ut AD) ultrasonography and finger photoplethysmography (PPG) in each of the three trimesters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty normal pregnancy subjects were recruited from the nulliparous women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancy presenting for a routine ultrasound scan and divided into three groups according to their trimester. Comparative analysis were conducted between Ut AD ultrasonography and finger PPG within and across trimesters, particularly with focus on the relationship between Uterine Artery Resistance Index (UtA RI) and photoplethysmographic reflection index (PPG RI) throughout pregnancy. Additional 10 preeclampsia patients in third trimester were enrolled for comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both UtA RI and PPG RI were markedly decreased with gestation in normal pregnancy and generally consistent with each other in trend. The preeclampsia patients of third trimester were significantly higher in both indices, even more than normal pregnancy subjects of first trimester.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study revealed clear relationship between UtA RI and PPG RI throughout pregnancy which could be exploited to enhance the potential ability in early recognition of pathophysiologic process in maternal adaptation and prediction of complicated pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Shenzhen People's Hospital , Shenzhen , China , and.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Xiaomin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Fangming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D017156:Photoplethysmography; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters / Q000502:physiology*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Doppler ultrasonography; Normal pregnancy; Photoplethysmographic reflection index; Preeclampsia; Uterine artery resistance index