title: Uterine artery pulsatility index in hypertensive pregnancies: When does the index normalize in the puerperium?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether the uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA PI) of hypertensive pregnancies is higher than that of normal pregnancies in the puerperium, as well as in the antepartum period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The UtA PI was measured in hypertensive (group 1) and normal pregnancies (group 2) during antepartum, immediate postpartum or late postpartum periods. Using the transvaginal approach, the bilateral uterine artery indices were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred twenty-two women were enrolled: group 1, hypertensive disease in pregnancy (11 cases in antepartum, 13 cases in immediate postpartum and 10 cases in late postpartum period); group 2, normal pregnancies (32 cases in antepartum, 29 cases in immediate postpartum and 27 cases in late postpartum). In antepartum and immediate postpartum periods, the mean UtA PI and the proportion of cases with an early diastolic notch were higher in group 1 than in group 2 (antepartum mean UtA PI, 1.14 in group 1 vs. 0.68 in group 2,P<0.001; early diastolic notch, 46% vs. 9%,P<0.05; immediate postpartum mean UtA PI, 1.30 vs. 1.08,P<0.05; early diastolic notch, 85% vs. 48%,P<0.05). In late postpartum period, the mean value of UtA PI of group 1 was still higher than that of group 2, although the proportion of cases with an early diastolic notch was not different (mean UtA PI, 1.43 vs. 1.20,P<0.05; early diastolic notch, 60% vs. 52%,P=0.73).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The UtA PI in hypertensive pregnancies was still higher than normal pregnancies in puerperal periods, suggesting that more than several weeks are required to resolve increased uterine artery vascular impedance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Kwan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0242-1736
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Su Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chan-Wook
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joong Shin
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Syn
keywords: Doppler; Hypertension; Postpartum period; Pre-eclampsia; Uterine artery