Screening for pre-eclampsia and small for gestational age fetuses at the 11-14 weeks scan by uterine artery Dopplers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of uterine artery Doppler studies at 11-14 weeks in screening for pre-eclampsia (PET), small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses, and placental abruption. METHODS: Prospective study on 1,123 women presenting for routine ultrasound examination at 11-14 weeks for nuchal translucency measurement. Uterine artery blood flow was studied by transvaginal colour Doppler, the mean pulsatility index (PI) was calculated, and the presence of a diastolic notch was recorded. RESULTS: The mean, median and 95th centile of uterine artery PI were 1.71, 1.64 and 2.54, respectively. Bilateral notches were observed in 63.4%, and a unilateral notch in 18.4% of cases. The sensitivity of mean uterine artery PI>or=95th centile for PET, early onset severe PET necessitating delivery before 34 weeks, SGA