The specificity of color Doppler ultrasound to detect fetal hypoxia in pregnancy-induced-hypertension with thyroid dysfunction

Abstract

The incidence of fetal hypoxia in pregnant women with Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH) is higher than normal pregnant women. Thyroid hormone is closely related to organism's metabolism. In this study, Color Doppler ultrasound was used to diagnose fetal hypoxia in pregnant women with PIH to further explore the correlation of hemodynamic indexes and thyroid hormone levels. 70 cases of pregnant women with PIH were divided into thyroid-normal group (39 cases), hyperthyroidism group (12 cases) and hypothyroidism group (19 cases). The hemodynamic indexes of Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) and Umbilical Artery (UA) were detected by color Doppler ultrasound. In hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism groups, the hemodynamic indexes of MCA were lower and hemodynamic indexes of UA were higher than thyroid-normal group. The results of correlation tests showed that, the hemodynamic indexes of UA and fetal hypoxia were both significantly correlated to thyroid hormone levels respectively, in pregnant women with PIH. Therefore, the hemodynamic index of UA may be an index which can predict thyroid function status in pregnant women with PIH. Pregnant women with PIH and thyroid dysfunction are more likely to get fetal hypoxia than those with normal thyroid function. Color Doppler ultrasound is sensitive to detect the changes.

Fetal monitoring technologies for the detection of intrapartum hypoxia - challenges and opportunities

“…The ability of Doppler US to assess blood flow is valuable in fetal hypoxia due to associated hemodynamic changes such as the brainsparing effect. Doppler US is responsive to these hemodynamic changes and can correlate flow patterns in vessels such as the middle cerebral artery and those in the umbilical cord to fetal hypoxia [141][142][143].…”