Doppler umbilical artery flow velocity waveforms in relation to birth weight in high risk pregnancy

ABSTRACT

High risk population at Um El-Queen Hospital were investigated with the Doppler umbilical artery FVW forms and correlated with cardiotocography and biophysical profile. There were 56 high risk patients including insulin dependent diabetes, pregnancy induced hypertension [P.I.H.], chronic hypertension, suspected intrauterine growth retardation [I.U.G.R.], and 70 control patients. 9 of high risk patients showed abnormal umbilical artery FVW values but only 3 of them showed antenatal fetal compromise. Only 5 of this 9 cases had intrauterine growth retardation [I.U.G.R.] with birth weight less than 50th centile. It is shown that umbilical artery FVW may be normal yet fetal compromise may be present or occurs shortly with possible I.U.F.D., this is more true in cases of diabetic pregnancy. There is more positive correlation between umbilical artery FVW and biophysical profile and N.S.T. in other types of high risk pregnancies including pregnancy induced hypertension growth retardation. FVW can not be relied on in diabetic pregnancy