Role of Doppler indices of umbilical and middle cerebral artery in prediction of perinatal outcome in preeclampsia

Background: Hypertension which develops de novo in pregnancy appears to be unique to human and continue to be a major cause of reported perinatal mortality. The aim and objectives of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of Umbilical and Middle cerebral artery Doppler in predicting the perinatal outcome in preeclampsia.Methods: A prospective study at Sri Siddhartha Medical College and Hospital between October2013-September2015 on 80pregnant women with preeclampsia at >30weeks gestation. Studies of fetal vessels were performed using a pulsed Doppler ultrasound. Resistance Index (RI), Pulsatility Index (PI) and systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D) were measured in umbilical artery (UA) and Middle cerebral artery (MCA) and perinatal outcomes were monitored and statistically analyzed.Results: Out of 80 cases studied, 25 cases showed adverse perinatal outcome, among which 6 cases with perinatal death, 13 cases had low APGAR at 5minutes. 6 cases had NICU admission.Conclusions: Color Doppler has an important role in antepartum fetal surveillance in preeclampsia which can detect fetal compromise at an early stage. In our study pulsatility index of umbilical artery and ratio of MCA/UA PI was more sensitive than other parameters with PPV 78%.