Diagnostic Role of Uterine Artery Doppler Sonography in IUGR Pregnancies

The current study sought to assess the role of uterine artery blood velocity waveforms, Systolic/Diastolic ratio (S/D), Pulsatility Index (PI), Resistance Index (RI) as predictor of perinatal outcome in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) pregnancies in the second and third trimesters. 50 cases of IUGR were investigated in the study group during the second and third trimesters. Ultrasonography biometry was performed first, followed by Uterine artery Doppler sonography. The S/D ratio, PI, and RI values in the uterine artery decreased from the second to the third trimester in both the control and study groups, but the decline was slower and the values were higher in the study group than in the control group. Thus the present study predicts that,(a) S/D ratio greater than 2.6 and RI greater than 0.58 was found to be abnormal. b) Disappearance of diastolic notch in III trimester is normal where as persistence of notch is abnormal. Doppler ultrasound is an useful noninvasive tool for assessing fetomaternal and uteroplacental circulations. The uterine artery measures were useful in predicting IUGR pregnancy outcomes.