Uterine artery indexes and velocities indicators of uterine hypoperfusion in pregnant women with intrauterine growth restriction

Abstract

Objectives: To assess indexes and velocities of the uterine artery as indicators of uterine hypoperfusion in pregnant women with intrauterine growth restriction. Design: Case-control study. Setting: Hospital III Honorio Delgado, Arequipa, Peru. Participants: Thirty pregnant women with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) confirmed birthweight below the 10th percentile; the control group included 80 normal pregnant women in the third trimester. Methods: Between July 2013 and April 2014 Doppler ultrasound of the uterine arteries was performed in pregnant women participating in the study and uterine arteries indexes and velocities were calculated; media were compared and RCIU diagnosis validity tests were performed. Main outcome measures: Calculation of indexes and velocities of the uterine arteries. Results: Mean gestational age for the IUGR and control groups were respectively 35.7 and 36.2 weeks. IUGR newborns average weight was 1 932.60 g. Mean velocity (MnV) had sensitivity of 73%, specificity 95%, positive predictive value (PPV) 85%, negative predictive value (NPV) 90%, odds ratio (OR) 52 and likelihood ratio (LR) 14.6. Pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) showed sensitivity 27%, specificity 95%, PPV 67%, NPV 78%, OR 6.9, and LR 5.3. Conclusions: The uterine artery velocities and especially mean velocity showed better sensitivity, PPV, NPV, odds ratio and likelihood ratio than indexes as indicators of uterine hypoperfusion in pregnant women with intrauterine growth restriction.