Uterine artery impedance at very early clinical pregnancy

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Luís Guedes-Martins (Author) Other; Joaquim Saraiva (Author) Other; Rita Gaio (Author) FCUP; Filipe Macedo (Author) Other; Henrique Almeida (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Prenatal Diagnosis

Vol. 34

Pages: 719-725

ISSN: 0197-3851

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 13 Citations

Scopus - 14 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-RVB

DOI: 10.1002/pd.4325

Abstract (EN): Objective The aim of the study was to construct gestational age-based reference ranges for the uterine artery (UtA) mean pulsatility (PI) and resistance (RI) indices from 6 to 10 weeks of pregnancy. Method A prospective, cross-sectional, observational study was carried out in 312 singleton pregnancies with gestational age ranging from 6 to 10 weeks. UtAs were examined transvaginally by color and pulsed Doppler imaging, and the mean of the right and left values of PI and RI, as well as the presence or absence of a bilateral protodiastolic notch, was recorded. UtA-PI and UtA-RI reference percentiles were derived through time-conditional quantile regression. Results The authors derived the 10th, 50th, and 90th reference percentile curves and correspondent 95% confidence intervals, for the evolution of the UtA mean PI and RI from week 6 to week 10 of gestation. The prevalence of bilateral notching absence was 8.1% (6/74) at 6 weeks and 28.8% (15/52) at 10 weeks. Conclusion The authors present evidence of progressive reduction of uterine vascular impedance in a very early stage of pregnancy and provide new, averaged UtA-PI and UtA-RI charts between 6 and 10 weeks of gestation. (C) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7