Role of uterine artery Doppler investigation in pregnant women with chronic hypertension

Objective: To evaluate the role of uterine artery Doppler investigation in predicting perinatal outcome of patients with chronic hypertension. Study design: Uterine artery velocimetry was investigated at 24 weeks gestation in 78 chronic hypertensive pregnant women by means of color Doppler. The resistance index (RI) and the presence of a diastolic notch were recorded and related to the development of superimposed preeclampsia (SPE), pregnancy aggravated hypertension (PAH), and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Results: There were more pregnancy complications in the 25 patients with abnormal RI, compared with the 53 women with normal RI (SPE 12% vs. O%, PAH 36% vs. 7% and IUGR 52% vs. 2%; P < 0.01), and more in women with a bilateral diastolic notch compared with those without (SPE 23% vs. O%, PAH 54% vs. 4%, IUGR 85% vs. 2%; P < 0.0001), while no differences were detected in those with only a unilateral notch, except for PAH (27% vs. 4%; P < 0.01). Conclusion: Uterine artery Doppler velocimetry identifies a subgroup of chronic hypertensive patients with a high frequency of pregnancy complications. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.