The association between fetal Doppler and uterine artery blood volume flow in term pregnancies: a pilot study

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between uterine artery blood volume flow and fetal doppler indices at term of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study in a tertiary-care university hospital was performed between December 2021 and May 2022. We included only term pregnancies that received an accurate ultrasound scan until a week before the birth. Uterine artery (UtA) diameter and UtA volume blood flow was estimated were recorded. The volume of each artery was summed to obtain the total uterine artery volume blood flow (QUtA). Umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), ductus venosus (DV) and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) foetal doppler indices were evaluated. Linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the relation of the QUtA with the fetal Doppler indices. Results: 49 pregnancies were included. UA pulsatility index (PI) analysis showed a significant association with QUtA (r2=0.40, p=0.01), demonstrating a decrease of the UA PI when the QUtA increased. The same relationship was noted between the UtA mean PI and QUtA (r2=0.41, p=0.005). A weak correlation between the newborn weight and the QUtA was also noted (r2=0.31, p=0.048), with an elevated newborn weight when the QUtA was high. Conclusion: This study showed that UA, UtA PI and birth weight seem to be linked to QUtA. QUtA had an inverse correlation with UA and UtA PI. In addition, increasing the QUtA showed a linear increase in fetal birth weight. These findings could be helpful in high-risk pregnancy management, but additional research is needed to identify how QUtA in the third trimester impacts labour and fetal outcomes.

Association of Placental Pathology with Physical and Neuronal Development of Infants: A Narrative Review and Reclassification of the Literature by the Consensus Statement of the Amsterdam Placental Workshop Group

“…Historically, it has been applied to the evaluation of placental conditions, including malfunction, and is referred to as the ‘memory of a pregnancy’ [ 4 ]. Verde et al demonstrated the association between fetal Doppler and uterine artery blood volume flow in term pregnancies, suggesting a possible contribution of the placenta to fetal outcome [ 17 ].…”

Doppler Indices of the Uterine, Umbilical and Fetal Middle Cerebral Artery in Diabetic versus Non-Diabetic Pregnancy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…During a physiological pregnancy, spiral remodeling modifies arteries from low-flow/high-resistance to high-flow/low-resistance vessels [ 15 , 16 ], but the maternal diabetes may change this process and the functioning of the placenta. Poor nutrient and oxygen transfer across the placenta lead to fetal hypoxia [ 17 ], while delayed metabolic products removal increases the risk of fetal asphyxia [ 18 ].…”

“…These hemodynamic changes could be revealed by Doppler ultrasound measurements [ 18 , 23 ]. The predictive power of Doppler US for adverse perinatal outcomes in both high- and low-risk pregnancies has been proven by numerous studies [ 16 ]. It still remains uncertain to which extent altered hemodynamics accompanies diabetic pregnancies.…”