THE ROLE OF COLOUR DOPPLER AND SPECTRAL FLOW ANALYSIS IN PREGNANCY INDUCED HYPERTENSION: A CASE CONTROL STUDY

Abstract

Background: The use of Doppler ultrasound to study blood flow in Obstetrics is of major importance because fetal inaccessibility precludes many other methods of study of fetal circulation. This study was undertaken to assess the role of Doppler in management of Pregnancy induced Hypertension.

Methodology: The present case-control study was conducted in the department of Radiology, Govt. Medical College & New Civil Hospital, Surat. Details of obstetric history, age, last menstrual date and underlying risk factor, Doppler study of umbilical artery, fetal middle cerebral artery, both maternal uterine arteries & Ductus venosus was done. Parameters in form of Resistive index (RI), Pulsatility index (PI) and systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D) of all four arteries were taken.

Results: It was observed that 55% cases with pregnancy induced hypertension developed IUGR fetuses while 2% of the IUGR fetus was present in control group. There were 41 (54%) cases with IUGR fetuses. Out of which 28 (68%) cases with IUGR had fetoplacental Doppler abnormality. 13 cases had abnormally low PI of MCA with normal umbilical arterial Doppler indices, out of which 12 patients had abnormal fetal outcome.

Conclusion: By examining the maternal vessels using Doppler ultrasound it is possible to determine, the risk of complication developing in the course of pregnancy long before clinical signs of preeclampsia appear so that therapeutic measures may be undertaken early.