title: Third-trimester uterine artery Doppler measurement and maternal postpartum outcome among patients with severe pre-eclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between uterine artery Doppler measurements and maternal complications among women with severe pre-eclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a cross-sectional study, women with a single intrauterine pregnancy of more than 28 weeks and a diagnosis of severe pre-eclampsia were enrolled at a unit in Cairo, Egypt, between December 2012 and September 2014. Uterine artery Doppler was evaluated and maternal complications were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 100 participants, 76 (76%) experienced maternal complications. There were significant differences in resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) between women who experienced no complications and those who had accidental hemorrhage, HELLP syndrome, and acute pulmonary edema (P<0.001 for all), and postpartum hemorrhage (P=0.004 and P<0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in RI for women with postpartum fits (P=0.360). There was a statistically significant difference regarding RI (P<0.001) and PI (P=0.005) between cases presenting with complications and those without. There was a significant negative correlation between PI and gestational age (r=-0.988; P<0.001) and between RI and gestational age (r=-0. 854; P<0.001), but no significant correlation between PI or RI and age, systolic blood pressure, or diastolic blood pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased uterine artery resistance in the third trimester of pregnancy could be used to predict postpartum maternal complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kasr AlAini Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: prof.ahmedmaged@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Maged
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kasr AlAini Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Noura
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: ElNassery
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kasr AlAini Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fouad
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kasr AlAini Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Aly
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdelhafiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kasr AlAini Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Walaa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Al Mostafa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Maternal complications; Severe pre-eclampsia; Uterine artery Doppler measurement