Doppler of uterine arteries and preeclampsia: Experience at the Hospital of San José

Doppler de arterias uterinas y preeclampsia: Experiencia en el Hospital de San José

Changes in uteroplacental circulation through the evaluation of uterine arteries with Doppler has aroused the interest of researchers, becoming the method of choice for screening patients at high risk of developing preeclampsia. Objectives: to describe the findings of the DPau in terms of arterial resistance index (IR) and pulsatility index (PI) in the second trimester of pregnancy and its association with PRE-E and / or intrauterine growth restriction in a selected population of the service of gynecology and obstetrics of the Hospital of San José in Bogotá, DC. Colombia. Materials and methods: 109 patients with gestational age from 22 to 25 weeks were attended between March 2004 and December 2007, risk factors for PRE-E were investigated and DPau was practiced. Follow-up was performed in weeks 28, 32 and 36 until information about the delivery was obtained. Results: 43 presented Doppler alteration, 15 (13%) were complicated with PRE-E and 10 (2%) with IUGR. The IR was found to be altered more frequently in PRE-E and the IP in IUGR. The history of PRE-E (60%), nulliparity (33%) and chronic hypertension (26%) were the risk factors most frequently observed in patients with PRE-E. Conclusions: the results obtained allow us to observe that the alterations of the DPau together with the risk factors of the population, could have some type of relation with the outcome of PRE-E and IUGR. Future research is expected to help clearly elucidate the association of DPau and risk factors with the development of adverse obstetric events. Abbreviations: PRE-E, preeclampsia; Doppler Doppler of uterine arteries; IR, arterial resistance index; IP, pulsatility index; IUGR, intrauterine growth retardation.

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