Doppler sonography of the uterine and the cubital arteries in normal pregnancies, preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction: evidence for a systemic vessel involvement

Aims: The decrease in uterine resistance during normal pregnancy is
known to be related to invading trophoblast cells which derive from
placental tissue. Uterine and peripheral resistance is elevated in
preeclampsia. The aim of the present study was to prospectively
examine uterine and peripheral resistance in pregnancies
complicated by preeclampsia (PE), fetal intrauterine growth
restriction (IUGR) and pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).
Methods: Sixty-seven women with normal pregnancies, 17 with PE, 12
with IUGR underwent Doppler sonographic investigation of the
uterine and the cubital arteries. The Pulsatility Index (PI) was
calculated for each vessel. Statistical analysis was performed and
a P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Patients
with preeclampsia and IUGR showed a significant higher resistance
at the placental (mean PI 1.267 and 1.063), nonplacental (mean PI
1.631 and 1.124) and cubital artery (mean PI 3,777 and 3.995)
compared to the normal pregnancy group (mean PI 0.678; 0.859 and
2.95 respectively). Mean birth weight in the PE group was 1409 g,
in the IUGR group 1649 g and 3419 g in the normal pregnancy group.
Conclusions: Pregnancies with IUGR are associated with elevated
peripheral resistance in the maternal arterial system as seen in
pregnancies with preeclampsia. Our findings encourage to further
investigate the maternal vascular system in high risk pregnancies.