Perinatal loss at term: role of uteroplacental and fetal Doppler assessment.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the associations of uterine artery (UtA) Doppler indices and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) with perinatal outcome at term.

METHODS:

This was a retrospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary referral center that included all singleton pregnancies undergoing ultrasound assessment in the third trimester that subsequently delivered at term. Fetal biometry and Doppler assessment, including that of the umbilical artery (UA), fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) and UtA, were recorded. Data were corrected for gestational age, and CPR was calculated as the ratio of MCA pulsatility index (PI) to UA-PI. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine for independent predictors of adverse perinatal outcome.

RESULTS:

The study included 7013 pregnancies, 12 of which were complicated by perinatal death. When compared with pregnancies resulting in perinatal survival, pregnancies complicated by perinatal death had a significantly higher proportion of small-for-gestational-age infants (25.0% vs 5%; P = 0.001) and a higher incidence of low (< 5th centile) CPR (16.7% vs 4.5%; P = 0.041). A subgroup analysis comparing 1527 low-risk pregnancies that resulted in fetal survival with pregnancies complicated by perinatal death demonstrated that UtA-PI multiples of the median (MoM), CPR < 5th centile and estimated fetal weight (EFW) centile were all associated significantly with the risk of perinatal death at term (all P < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding variables, only EFW centile (odds ratio (OR) 0.96 (95% CI, 0.93-0.99); P = 0.003) and UtA-PI MoM (OR 13.10 (95%CI, 1.95-87.89); P = 0.008) remained independent predictors of perinatal death in the low-risk cohort.

CONCLUSION:

High UtA-PI at term is associated independently with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcome, regardless of fetal size. These results suggest that perinatal mortality at term is related not only to EFW and fetal redistribution (CPR), but also to indices of uterine perfusion. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

• Authors: C Monaghan, J Binder, B Thilaganathan, J Morales-Roselló, A Khalil
• Journal: Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 52 Issue 1 Pg. 72-77 (07 2018) ISSN: 1469-0705 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 28436166 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• Fetal Growth Retardation (diagnostic imaging, physiopathology)
• Fetal Weight
• Gestational Age
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Small for Gestational Age
• Middle Cerebral Artery (diagnostic imaging, physiopathology)
• Perinatal Death
• Placental Insufficiency (diagnostic imaging, physiopathology)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Outcome
• Pregnancy Trimester, Third
• Pulsatile Flow (physiology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Ultrasonography, Doppler
• Ultrasonography, Prenatal
• Uterine Artery (diagnostic imaging, physiopathology)