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Our objectives were to assess the plasma coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels in normal pregnancy, in pregnancy with a spontaneous contractile event, in spontaneous abortion and in threatened abortion. Six hundred and fifteen CoQ10 levels were analyzed in 483 pregnant women: 350 patients were employed to design a normal curve; 66 patients with spontaneous contractile activity underwent two or more CoQ10 analyses in different trimesters; 49 patients presented spontaneous abortion, and 18 patients threatened abortion. The normal curve of plasma CoQ10 levels rises during each trimester of pregnancy, while there is a correspondence between a low CoQ10 level and spontaneous abortion. Furthermore we found a statistically significant difference between the plasma CoQ10 value in spontaneous contractile activity, mainly in the third trimester. We found an increase in the plasma CoQ10 level in relation to the contractile activity of the uterine muscle. Further studies are necessary to explain the involvement of this marker on pregnancy in clinical practice.

To determine if uterine artery Doppler velocimetry is useful in identifying chronic hypertensive pregnancies at risk for superimposed preeclampsia and adverse perinatal outcome. Resistance index (RI) was assessed by color velocimetry at the level of uterine arteries at 23-24 weeks of gestation in 42 women with chronic hypertension. The "lowest", the "highest" and the "average" values were compared to select the most predictive index for superimposed preeclampsia, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), birth weight lower than 2500 g and gestational age at delivery less than 36 weeks. Nine patients developed superimposed preeclampsia (21%) and 15 delivered before the 36th week of gestation (36%); 4 babies were IUGR (10%) and in 18 cases birth weights were below 2500 g (43%). Statistical analysis of Doppler findings showed that abnormal values of "lowest RI" were significantly correlated with adverse pregnancy outcome. Color Doppler analysis of uterine arteries is able to select chronic hypertensive pregnant women at risk of superimposed preeclampsia and poor perinatal outcome.

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Color Doppler analysis added to transvaginal gray-scale ultrasonography seems to be a helpful tool in the diagnosis of recurrent tumors in the central region of the pelvis.