Reference values of maternal ophthalmic artery doppler variables in the first trimester of normal pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to establish normative data for ophthalmic artery Doppler variables in the first trimester of normal pregnancy. METHODS: Maternal ophthalmic artery Doppler signals were recorded in 409 singleton pregnancies at 11-14 weeks' gestation, in mothers presenting consecutively for routine antenatal care. Pulsatility and resistance indices (PI, RI), peak systolic velocity (PSV), first peak diastolic velocity (PD1), and peak ratio (PR) were measured. Quartile regression was used to estimate reference ranges in the late first trimester of pregnancy. RESULTS: Mean ± SD values for maternal ophthalmic artery Doppler parameters between 11 and 14 weeks' gestation were RI = 0.81 ± 0.12, PI = 2.06 ± 0.57, PSV = 36.41 ± 12.1, PD1 = 21.07 ± 7.62, and PR = 0.58 ± 0.11. All clinical and Doppler variables were normally distributed. PD1 values were higher in patients who smoked, and in those with diabetes or a history of pre-eclampsia. PR values were higher in patients with diabetes and chronic hypertension, and lower in the nulliparous; these values declined as gestation advanced from 11 to 14 weeks, whereas the other variables remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: We provide reference values for maternal ophthalmic artery Doppler variables in the first trimester of normal pregnancy.

Reference range of uterine artery Doppler parameters between the 11th and 14th pregnancy weeks in a population sample from Northeast Brazil.

PURPOSE: To establish reference values for the first trimester uterine artery resistance index (UtA-RI) and pulsatility index (UtA-PI) in healthy singleton pregnant women from Northeast Brazil. METHODS: A prospective observational cohort study including 409 consecutive singleton pregnancies undergoing routine early ultrasound screening at 11 - 14 weeks of gestation was performed. The patients responded to a questionnaire to assess maternal epidemiological characteristics. The left and right UtA-PI and UtA-RI were examined by color and pulsed Doppler by transabdominal technique and the mean UtA-PI, mean UtA-RI and the presence of bilateral protodiastolic notching were recorded. Quartile regression was used to estimate reference values. RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation UtA-RI and UtA-PI were 0.7 ± 0.1 and 1.5 ± 0.5, respectively. When segregated for gestation age, mean UtA-PI was 1.6 ± 0.5 at 11 weeks, 1.5 ± 0.6 at 12 weeks, 1.4 ± 0.4 at 13 weeks and 1.3 ± 0.4 at 14 weeks' gestation and mean UtA-RI was 0.7 ± 0.1 at 11 weeks, 0.7 ± 0.1 at 12 weeks, 0.6 ± 0.1 at 13 weeks and 0.6 ± 0.1 at 14 weeks' gestation. Uterine artery bilateral notch was present in 261 (63.8%) patients. We observed that the 5th and 95th percentiles of the UtA-PI and UtA-RI uterine arteries were 0.7 and 2.3 and, 0.5 and 0.8, respectively. CONCLUSION: Normal reference range of uterine artery Doppler in healthy singleton pregnancies from Northeast Brazil was established. The 95th percentile of UtA-PI and UtA-RI values may serve as a cut-off for future prediction of pregnancy complications studies (i.e., pre-eclampsia) in Northeast Brazil.