Doppler hemodynamic changes in fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation of 26-34 weeks at 24 and 48 hours of maternal administration of Betametasone

Cambios hemodinámicos por Doppler en fetos con retardo del crecimiento intrauterino de 26-34 semanas a 24 y 48 horas de la administración materna de Betametasona

Objective: to identify changes in the pulsatility index (PI) of the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries after applying betamethasone in patients with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) between 26 and 34 weeks. Methods: 22 patients hospitalized with single pregnancies between 26 and 34 weeks associated with IUGR, with indications of lung maturation who were not in labor, received complete maturation protocol, initial fetoplacental doppler sampling and at 24 and 48 hours. Results: 68.2% presented hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, 81.8% (n: 18) denied associated chronic disease, no major fetal abnormalities were documented or fetal infection was suspected. The average PI of the umbilical artery at admission was 1.62 (SD 0.41) and of the middle cerebral artery 1.97 (SD 0.61). In the 48-hour Doppler, IP changes were observed in the umbilical (p = 0.0079) and the middle cerebral (p = 0.0149), with respect to the baseline. Conclusions: in IUGR between weeks 26 and 34 there are variations with statistical significance of the IP in the umbilical and medial cerebral arteries Doppler that were not always associated with changes in the current Doppler staging and have no clinical importance. Associated gestational hypertension can be a confounding factor. Abbreviations: IP, pulsatility index: IUGR, delay in intrauterine growth.

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