Fetal Middle Cerebral Artery Pulsatility Index in No-Risk Pregnancies: Effects of Auditory Stimulation and Pregnancy Order

Abstract

Pulsatility index (PI) values in a fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) were compared in no-risk pregnancies to examine the differences related to auditory stimulation test and pregnancy order. The study included 196 women with no-risk pregnancies selected from the database of more than 1000 pregnant women divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 98 nulliparous women (C1 = 98) and Group 2 consisted of 98 parous women (C2 = 98). All pregnant women were of comparable age and fetal gestational age (GA) when MCA-PI values were recorded. Measurements of PI values in fetal MCA were obtained before and immediately after the application of fetal auditory stimulation test. The MCA-PI measuring was conducted in the period between the 36th and the 41st week of GA. The results showed that PI baseline values and PI values after defined auditory stimulation were significantly different when measured in nulliparous women compared to parous women (p = 0.001; p = 0.003, respectively), while no group differences were observed in relative PI value changes due to auditory stimulation. These findings suggest that hemodynamic changes in fetal MCA caused by defined auditory stimulation measured by PI value changes may be valuable in the assessment of fetal auditory perception functionality and its development.

Analysis of Proteomic Characteristics of Peripheral Blood in Preeclampsia and Study of Changes in Fetal Arterial Doppler Parameters Based on Magnetic Nanoparticles

“…At the same time, the position of the fetal cerebral artery is less affected by the fetal position, movement, and respiration, and the error produced by the CDFI measurement is relatively small. Under normal circumstances, with the increase of maternal pregnancy time and the development of fetal cerebral blood vessels, the diameter of fetal cerebral arteries will increase and the blood flow resistance will decrease to achieve the purpose of increasing blood supply to the brain [ 34 ].…”

Change In Middle Cerebral Artery Pulsatility Index Over Time Due To Fetal Response To Defined Sound Stimulation: Human fetal responses to airborne sound stimulation

“…The estimation of PI changes in MCA due to auditory stimulation gave some reliable findings regarding fetal auditory reactions. Accordingly, these studies pointed out that Pulsatility index (PI) changes could be associated with auditory stimulation (Jeličić Dobrijević et al, 2009;Plesinac et al, 2013;Jankovic-Raznatovic et al, 2014;Jeličić et al, 2020).…”

“…Examining the maturity of the fetal auditory system may be crucial as it may indicate the auditory potential necessary for speech and language development (Jeličić et al, 2020). The method of prenatal hearing screening (PHS) was developed and applied by Sovilj and Ljubic in 1992 (Sovilj, Ljubi, and Milenković, 1992) with the aim of estimating fetal auditory perception.…”