Comparison of two different sites of measurement for transabdominal uterine artery Doppler velocimetry at 11-13 weeks

Relationship of maternal ophthalmic artery Doppler with uterine artery Doppler, hemodynamic indices and gestational age: prospective MATERA study

OBJECTIVES

To examine the relationship of ophthalmic artery (OA) Doppler indices with uterine artery (UtA) Doppler indices, selected maternal hemodynamic parameters and gestational age, and to evaluate the intraobserver reproducibility of OA Doppler indices.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of women recruited between 11 + 0 and 23 + 6 weeks' gestation using a stratified and random sampling approach to ensure adequate distribution across the gestational-age range. OA pulsatility index (PI), first peak systolic velocity (PSV1), second peak systolic velocity (PSV2) and peak systolic velocity ratio (PSV ratio), calculated as PSV2/PSV1, were measured twice in each eye by the same observer. UtA-PI was also measured twice on each side by the same observer. Maternal hemodynamic assessment was undertaken using an ultrasonic cardiac output monitor (USCOM 1A). Pearson's and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were used to assess the correlations between variables, and Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate the intraobserver reproducibility of OA Doppler indices.

RESULTS

Of 194 women invited to participate in the study, 169 were eligible for inclusion, of whom 16 were excluded following an obstetric ultrasound scan and a further three owing to inadequate or incomplete OA or UtA Doppler assessment, leaving 150 women in the final analysis. Log UtA-PI had a weak correlation with both OA-PI (r = -0.19 (95% CI, -0.34 to -0.03), P = 0.021) and OA-PSV ratio (r = 0.31 (95% CI, 0.15-0.45), P < 0.001). The correlation between gestational age and OA-PI was non-significant (r = 0.14 (95% CI, -0.03 to 0.29), P = 0.097), and that between gestational age and OA-PSV ratio was weak (r = -0.23 (95% CI, -0.38 to -0.07), P = 0.004), as opposed to the strong correlation between gestational age and UtA-PI (r = -0.68 (95% CI, -0.76 to -0.58), P < 0.001). No strong correlations were observed between OA-PI or OA-PSV ratio and maternal hemodynamic indices. The correlations were unaltered by adjustment for maternal age and body mass index. The intraobserver reproducibility of OA-PI and OA-PSV ratio in the same eye was high. The correlation between the right and left eyes was moderate for OA-PI (r = 0.63 (95% CI, 0.53-0.72), P < 0.001) and strong for OA-PSV ratio (r = 0.81 (95% CI, 0.75-0.86), P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

OA-PI and OA-PSV ratio had a weak or no correlation with UtA-PI and maternal hemodynamic parameters, meaning that they can be used as independent predictors for pre-eclampsia. Gestational age had no clinically relevant effect on OA-PI and OA-PSV ratio, suggesting that these indices could be measured without adjustment at any time between 11 and 23 weeks' gestation. OA Doppler indices had high intraobserver reproducibility and were strongly correlated between the right and left eyes. © 2025 The Author(s). Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Biosensor for Detecting Fetal Growth Restriction in a Low-Resource Setting

One strategy for improving detection of fetal growth restriction (FGR) is developing biosensors identifying placental dysfunction as a leading pathogenesis for FGR. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the performance of a biosensor specified to detect placental dysfunction by means of maternal arterial turbulence acoustics in a low-resource setting. A cohort of 147 singleton pregnant women were prospectively followed with double-blinded biosensor tests, sonographic estimation of fetal weight (EFW) and Doppler flow at 26–28, 32–34 and 37–39 weeks of pregnancy. Full term live births with recorded birth weights (BWs) and without major congenital malformations were included. Outcomes were defined as (A) a solitary biometric measure (BW < 3rd centile) and as (B) a biometric measure and contributory functional measure (BW < 10th centile and antenatally detected umbilical artery pulsatility index > 95th centile). Data from 118 women and 262 antenatal examinations were included. Mean length of pregnancy was 40 weeks (SD ± 8 days), mean BW was 3008 g (SD ± 410 g). Outcome (A) was identified in seven (6%) pregnancies, whereas outcome (B) was identified in one (0.8%) pregnancy. The biosensor tested positive in five (4%) pregnancies. The predictive performance for outcome (A) was sensitivity = 0.29, specificity = 0.97, p = 0.02, positive predictive value (PPV) was 0.40 and negative predictive value (NPV) was 0.96. The predictive performance was higher for outcome (B) with sensitivity = 1.00, specificity = 0.97, p = 0.04, PPV = 0.20 and NPV = 1.00. Conclusively, these pilot-study results show future potential for biosensors as screening modality for FGR in a low-resource setting.

Variation in the uterine arteries Doppler parameters when obtained transvaginally or transabdominally at different sampling locations

INTRODUCTION

To evaluate differences in Doppler velocimetry parameters when the uterine arteries (UtA) are evaluated transabdominally (TA) at different sampling locations and transvaginally (TV).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Five hundred and fifty-seven pregnant women were evaluated between 11 and 39 weeks of gestation. The mean UtA pulsatility index (PI) and prevalence of bilateral notching were obtained at four different locations: (1) TA just above the crossing with the iliac artery; (2) TA just below the crossing with the iliac artery; (3) TA well above approximately 3 cm away from the crossing with the iliac artery; and (4) TV at the point closest to the internal cervical os. Measurements obtained just above the external iliac artery were considered the standard for comparison. Differences among different locations per gestational week were calculated.

RESULTS

The mean UtA-PI and prevalence of bilateral notching were similar when the uterine arteries were sampled TA just above or just below the crossing with the external iliac artery. The mean UtA-PI values and prevalence of bilateral notching were significantly higher (p < .0001) when obtained TV and significantly lower when obtained 3 cm above the crossing with the external iliac artery (p = .004), as compared to the standard plane just above the crossing.

CONCLUSION

The mean UtA-PI and prevalence of bilateral notching vary significantly when the uterine arteries are sampled far above the crossing with the external iliac artery or when obtained transvaginally.Key MessageThe predictive performance of the uterine arteries during pregnancy can significantly vary in relation to the approach selected for evaluation and to the location of the Doppler sampling gate.

Pre-eclampsia screening in the first trimester - preemptive action to prevent the peril

Pre-eclampsia complicating 2-5% of pregnancies is an obstetrical syndrome associated with deleterious short-and long-term consequences to the gravid women, the fetus and the neonate. Majority of the obstetrical complications occur in early pre-eclampsia (requiring delivery <34 weeks). The risk factor based approach recommended by the professional organizations for pre-eclampsia screening has shown suboptimal clinical performance. The combined multimarker screening for pre-eclampsia encompassing documentation of maternal medical history, measurement of mean arterial pressure, estimation of the maternal serum levels of placental growth factor, pregnancy associated plasma protein-A, and recording the Uterine artery mean pulsatility index, performed in the first trimester between 11 and 13 + 6 weeks has proven to be an effective screening strategy. The a-priori risk is determined by multivariate analysis of the factors from history, while the other parameters are converted to log 10 transformed multiple of median values. Bayes' theorem is used to calculate the final risk. The above model has shown to detect 77% of preterm pre-eclampsia (<37 weeks), 96% of early preterm pre-eclampsia (<34 weeks), 38% of term pre-eclampsia and 54% of all pre-eclampsia, at a false positive rate of 10%. Uterine artery Doppler is key to pre-eclampsia screening. Currently a risk of >1:100 for pre-eclampsia developing before 37 weeks (preterm pre-eclampsia) is regarded as screen positive. Aspirin at a dose of 150 mg at bedtime given to screen positive subjects is associated with a significant reduction of preterm pre-eclampsia and early pre-eclampsia. The intervention is now supported by a well conducted randomized trial and metanalysis data. Aspirin acts by diminishing stores of constitutive cyclooxygenase enzyme in the non-nucleated platelets without disturbing systemic prostaglandin production. Selective use of aspirin in screen positive women is associated with a very low incidence of adverse maternal, fetal and neonatal side effects. The screening protocol can be applied to twin pregnancies albeit minor differences. Hence, screening for pre-eclampsia in first trimester, which is now endorsed by the federation of international obstetrical and gynecological societies, should be offered universally to all women at 11 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation, followed by the administration of aspirin and serial maternal-fetal surveillance in the screen positive woman.

The Transverse versus the Sagittal Approach in First-Trimester Uterine Artery Doppler Measurement

Objective

The uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) is an important marker for predicting and assessing the risk of various complications such as pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction. The measurement of UtA-PI in the first trimester is usually conducted via the sagittal approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate UtA Doppler measurement using the transverse approach in the first trimester.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study of 50 women with singleton pregnancy at between 11-13+6 weeks of gestation. Uterine artery (UtA) Doppler variables were measured using both the transverse and sagittal approach. The two approaches were compared in terms of time required to complete the measurements and early diastolic notch. The sample t-test and Wilcoxon rank sign test were used to analyze the outcomes when appropriate. Bland-Altman plots were used to determine the agreement between the two approaches. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Intra-class correlation (ICC) was used to evaluate the reliability of measurements.

Results

There were a total of 50 pregnant women who participated in the study and completed the study protocol. The mean age of all subjects was 29.6 years, and 24 (48%) were nulliparous. We observed no difference in terms of mean UtA-PI between the two approaches (sagittal: 2.04, transverse: 2.03; mean difference 0.01, CI -0.01, 0.04; p>0.309), nor in the means of any other UtA variables. However, there were differences between the two approaches in terms of early diastolic notch (sagittal: 11, transverse: 13; p>0.999) and the mean time required to complete the measurements (transverse: 21.7 s, sagittal: 24.3 s; p=0.001). The intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were 0.985, 0.963, and 0.988 for the right, left, and mean UtA-PIs respectively.

Conclusion

The transverse approach at a bladder depth of less than 5 cm performed better than the sagittal approach in the measurement of first-trimester uterine arteries. It may, thus, may be useful as a complementary approach in cases in which there is difficulty obtaining measurements using the sagittal approach.

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) initiative on pre-eclampsia: A pragmatic guide for first-trimester screening and prevention

Pre‐eclampsia (PE) is a multisystem disorder that typically affects 2%–5% of pregnant women and is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, especially when the condition is of early onset. Globally, 76 000 women and 500 000 babies die each year from this disorder. Furthermore, women in low‐resource countries are at a higher risk of developing PE compared with those in high‐resource countries. Although a complete understanding of the pathogenesis of PE remains unclear, the current theory suggests a two‐stage process. The first stage is caused by shallow invasion of the trophoblast, resulting in inadequate remodeling of the spiral arteries. This is presumed to lead to the second stage, which involves the maternal response to endothelial dysfunction and imbalance between angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors, resulting in the clinical features of the disorder. Accurate prediction and uniform prevention continue to elude us. The quest to effectively predict PE in the first trimester of pregnancy is fueled by the desire to identify women who are at high risk of developing PE, so that necessary measures can be initiated early enough to improve placentation and thus prevent or at least reduce the frequency of its occurrence. Furthermore, identification of an “at risk” group will allow tailored prenatal surveillance to anticipate and recognize the onset of the clinical syndrome and manage it promptly. PE has been previously defined as the onset of hypertension accompanied by significant proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. Recently, the definition of PE has been broadened. Now the internationally agreed definition of PE is the one proposed by the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP). According to the ISSHP, PE is defined as systolic blood pressure at ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure at ≥90 mm Hg on at least two occasions measured 4 hours apart in previously normotensive women and is accompanied by one or more of the following new‐onset conditions at or after 20 weeks of gestation: 1.Proteinuria (i.e. ≥30 mg/mol protein:creatinine ratio; ≥300 mg/24 hour; or ≥2 + dipstick); 2.Evidence of other maternal organ dysfunction, including: acute kidney injury (creatinine ≥90 μmol/L; 1 mg/dL); liver involvement (elevated transaminases, e.g. alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase >40 IU/L) with or without right upper quadrant or epigastric abdominal pain; neurological complications (e.g. eclampsia, altered mental status, blindness, stroke, clonus, severe headaches, and persistent visual scotomata); or hematological complications (thrombocytopenia–platelet count <150 000/μL, disseminated intravascular coagulation, hemolysis); or 3.Uteroplacental dysfunction (such as fetal growth restriction, abnormal umbilical artery Doppler waveform analysis, or stillbirth). It is well established that a number of maternal risk factors are associated with the development of PE: advanced maternal age; nulliparity; previous history of PE; short and long interpregnancy interval; use of assisted reproductive technologies; family history of PE; obesity; Afro‐Caribbean and South Asian racial origin; co‐morbid medical conditions including hyperglycemia in pregnancy; pre‐existing chronic hypertension; renal disease; and autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome. These risk factors have been described by various professional organizations for the identification of women at risk of PE; however, this approach to screening is inadequate for effective prediction of PE. PE can be subclassified into: 1.Early‐onset PE (with delivery at <34+0 weeks of gestation); 2.Preterm PE (with delivery at <37+0 weeks of gestation); 3.Late‐onset PE (with delivery at ≥34+0 weeks of gestation); 4.Term PE (with delivery at ≥37+0 weeks of gestation). These subclassifications are not mutually exclusive. Early‐onset PE is associated with a much higher risk of short‐ and long‐term maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Obstetricians managing women with preterm PE are faced with the challenge of balancing the need to achieve fetal maturation in utero with the risks to the mother and fetus of continuing the pregnancy longer. These risks include progression to eclampsia, development of placental abruption and HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme, low platelet) syndrome. On the other hand, preterm delivery is associated with higher infant mortality rates and increased morbidity resulting from small for gestational age (SGA), thrombocytopenia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cerebral palsy, and an increased risk of various chronic diseases in adult life, particularly type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Women who have experienced PE may also face additional health problems in later life, as the condition is associated with an increased risk of death from future cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, renal impairment, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. The life expectancy of women who developed preterm PE is reduced on average by 10 years. There is also significant impact on the infants in the long term, such as increased risks of insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and hypertension in infants born to pre‐eclamptic women. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) brought together international experts to discuss and evaluate current knowledge on PE and develop a document to frame the issues and suggest key actions to address the health burden posed by PE. FIGO's objectives, as outlined in this document, are: (1) To raise awareness of the links between PE and poor maternal and perinatal outcomes, as well as to the future health risks to mother and offspring, and demand a clearly defined global health agenda to tackle this issue; and (2) To create a consensus document that provides guidance for the first‐trimester screening and prevention of preterm PE, and to disseminate and encourage its use. Based on high‐quality evidence, the document outlines current global standards for the first‐trimester screening and prevention of preterm PE, which is in line with FIGO good clinical practice advice on first trimester screening and prevention of pre‐eclampsia in singleton pregnancy.1 It provides both the best and the most pragmatic recommendations according to the level of acceptability, feasibility, and ease of implementation that have the potential to produce the most significant impact in different resource settings. Suggestions are provided for a variety of different regional and resource settings based on their financial, human, and infrastructure resources, as well as for research priorities to bridge the current knowledge and evidence gap. To deal with the issue of PE, FIGO recommends the following: Public health focus: There should be greater international attention given to PE and to the links between maternal health and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) on the Sustainable Developmental Goals agenda. Public health measures to increase awareness, access, affordability, and acceptance of preconception counselling, and prenatal and postnatal services for women of reproductive age should be prioritized. Greater efforts are required to raise awareness of the benefits of early prenatal visits targeted at reproductive‐aged women, particularly in low‐resource countries. Universal screening: All pregnant women should be screened for preterm PE during early pregnancy by the first‐trimester combined test with maternal risk factors and biomarkers as a one‐step procedure. The risk calculator is available free of charge at https://fetalmedicine.org/research/assess/preeclampsia. FIGO encourages all countries and its member associations to adopt and promote strategies to ensure this. The best combined test is one that includes maternal risk factors, measurements of mean arterial pressure (MAP), serum placental growth factor (PLGF), and uterine artery pulsatility index (UTPI). Where it is not possible to measure PLGF and/or UTPI, the baseline screening test should be a combination of maternal risk factors with MAP, and not maternal risk factors alone. If maternal serum pregnancy‐associated plasma protein A (PAPP‐A) is measured for routine first‐trimester screening for fetal aneuploidies, the result can be included for PE risk assessment. Variations to the full combined test would lead to a reduction in the performance screening. A woman is considered high risk when the risk is 1 in 100 or more based on the first‐trimester combined test with maternal risk factors, MAP, PLGF, and UTPI. Contingent screening: Where resources are limited, routine screening for preterm PE by maternal factors and MAP in all pregnancies and reserving measurements of PLGF and UTPI for a subgroup of the population (selected on the basis of the risk derived from screening by maternal factors and MAP) can be considered. Prophylactic measures: Following first‐trimester screening for preterm PE, women identified at high risk should receive aspirin prophylaxis commencing at 11–14+6 weeks of gestation at a dose of ~150 mg to be taken every night until 36 weeks of gestation, when delivery occurs, or when PE is diagnosed. Low‐dose aspirin should not be prescribed to all pregnant women. In women with low calcium intake (<800 mg/d), either calcium replacement (≤1 g elemental calcium/d) or calcium supplementation (1.5–2 g elemental calcium/d) may reduce the burden of both early‐ and late‐onset PE.

Image-scoring system for umbilical and uterine artery pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound measurement

OBJECTIVES

To develop an objective image-scoring system for pulsed-wave Doppler measurement of maternal uterine and fetal umbilical arteries, and evaluate how this compares with subjective assessment.

METHODS

As an extension to the INTERGROWTH-21^st Project, we developed a scoring system based on six predefined criteria for uterine and umbilical artery pulsed-wave Doppler measurements. Objective evaluation using the scoring system was compared with subjective assessment which consisted of classifying an image as simply acceptable or unacceptable. Based on sample size estimation, a total of 120 umbilical and uterine artery Doppler images were selected randomly from the INTERGROWTH-21^st image database. Two independent reviewers evaluated all images in a blinded fashion, both subjectively and using the six-point scoring system. Percentage agreement and kappa statistic were compared between the two methods.

RESULTS

The overall agreement between reviewers was higher for objective assessment using the scoring system (agreement, 85%; adjusted kappa, 0.70) than for subjective assessment (agreement, 70%; adjusted kappa, 0.47). For the six components of the scoring system, the level of agreement (adjusted kappa) was 0.97 for anatomical site, 0.88 for sweep speed, 0.77 for magnification, 0.68 for velocity scale, 0.68 for image clarity and 0.65 for angle of insonation.

CONCLUSION

In quality assessment of umbilical and uterine artery pulsed-wave Doppler measurements, our proposed objective six-point image-scoring system is associated with greater reproducibility than is subjective assessment. We recommend this as the preferred method for quality control, auditing and teaching. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Comparative Study of Abdominal Versus Transvaginal Ultrasound for Uterine Artery Doppler Velocimetry at 11 to 13 Weeks

OBJECTIVES

To compare the first-trimester uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) measured by abdominal and transvaginal ultrasound (US).

METHODS

We performed a prospective study of singleton pregnant women recruited at 11 to 13 weeks' gestation. The mean uterine artery PI was obtained by abdominal followed by transvaginal US. The mean of the left and right uterine artery PIs was used, and differences between approaches were computed. The intraclass correlation coefficient and a Bland-Altman plot were used to compare the two approaches.

RESULTS

Data were available for 940 participants, including 928 (99%) with uterine artery PIs obtained on both uterine sides. The mean uterine artery PI decreased with gestational age in both approaches (P < .001). We observed a moderate correlation between abdominal and transvaginal mean uterine artery PIs (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.69 to 0.75). Values obtained by abdominal US (median, 1.70, interquartile range, 1.35 to 2.09) were greater than those obtained by transvaginal US (median, 1.65; interquartile range, 1.37 to 1.99). There was a significant increase in differences as average measurements became higher (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

The first-trimester mean uterine artery PI decreases with gestational age in both approaches. Abdominal US could be associated with greater uterine artery PI values than transvaginal US, especially at higher measurements. The first-trimester uterine artery PI for prediction of adverse perinatal outcomes should be adjusted for gestational age and possibly for the US approach.

Serum C3 and uterine artery Doppler indices at 14-20 weeks gestation for preeclampsia screening in low-risk primigravidas: A prospective observational study

PROBLEM

Preeclampsia affects 2-10% of human pregnancies with poor screening tests. In order to intervene preventively, high risk population should be identified before the 20th week of pregnancy and by a method not subjected to operator efficiency.

METHODOLOGY

Prospective observational study recruiting 825 low risk primigravidas. Serum C3 and uterine artery Doppler indices were measured at 14-20 weeks.

RESULTS

Serum C3 levels at 14-20 weeks of gestation had a sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 100%, PPV 100% and NPV 98.3% when the cut-off value was 53.1mg/. For the mean RI, the best cut off value found was 0.72 with 100% sensitivity, 99.1% specificity, 92.3% PPV and 100% NPV. For the mean PI the best cut off value was 1.35 with 100% sensitivity, 94.1% specificity, 63.2% PPV and 100% NPV. The combination of serum C3 level and mean uterine artery PI showed 100% sensitivity, 97.4% specificity, 80% PPV and 100% NPV in prediction of PE.

CONCLUSION

Serum C3 levels at 14-20 weeks can be used for prediction of PE with comparable results to uterine artery Doppler indices but has the superiority of being operator independent.

Assessing quality standards in measurement of uterine artery pulsatility index at 11 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effect of audit and feedback on the performance of first-trimester uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) measurement, to determine whether operator experience affects performance and whether an operator's measurement profile affects the screen-positive rate for early-onset pre-eclampsia (PE).

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study in which UtA-PI measurements were collected between 11 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation by 12 operators and were entered into individualized calculators to convert them to multiples of a locally-derived median (MoM). Individual sonographer cumulative sum (CUSUM) and target charts were generated to assess central tendency and dispersion to identify systematic measurement errors and deviation from expected measurement performance. Six of the operators received regular feedback whilst the remaining six received no feedback. Each group consisted of four experienced operators and two relatively inexperienced operators. The average MoM for each operator was compared with their respective screen-positive rates for early-onset PE.

RESULTS

The group that received feedback performed better than that which received none, with results more closely matching the expected measurement distribution. UtA-PI measurements were comparable between the experienced and inexperienced sonographers (mean log10 lowest PI MoM, -0.0089 vs 0.0124, respectively); however the inexperienced sonographers had a higher overall screen-positive rate for early-onset PE (10.0% vs 2.7%, respectively). There was a significant positive correlation between the mean MoM for each operator and the screen-positive rate (r = 0.63).

CONCLUSIONS

CUSUM and target graphs are an effective method of audit for first-trimester UtA-PI measurement. Feedback to operators resulted in improved measurement performance, which will ultimately result in improved screening accuracy for PE.

First-trimester uterine artery Doppler analysis in the prediction of later pregnancy complications

Uterine artery Doppler waveform analysis has been extensively studied in the second trimester of pregnancy as a predictive marker for the later development of preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. The use of Doppler interrogation of this vessel in the first trimester has gained momentum in recent years. Various measurement techniques and impedance indices have been used to evaluate the relationship between uterine artery Doppler velocimetry and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Overall, first-trimester Doppler interrogation of the uterine artery performs better in the prediction of early-onset than late-onset preeclampsia. As an isolated marker of future disease, its sensitivity in predicting preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction in low risk pregnant women is moderate, at 40–70%. Multiparametric predictive models, combining first-trimester uterine artery pulsatility index with maternal characteristics and biochemical markers, can achieve a detection rate for early-onset preeclampsia of over 90%. The ideal combination of these tests and validation of them in various patient populations will be the focus of future research.

Influence of Sampling Site on Uterine Artery Doppler Indices at 11-13+6 Weeks Gestation

Introduction: Uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) is a key variable in the first trimester screening for pre-eclampsia. The aims of the study were to examine the effect of sampling the uterine arteries at a site distal to the level of the internal os, and to determine a lower limit of peak systolic velocity (PSV) to establish an auditable standard. Material and Methods: PI and PSV measurements were performed at 11-13+6 weeks' gestation at two sites: at the level of the internal os and 3 cm distal to the internal os. Comparative analyses utilised the Student's paired t-test. A 90% reference interval of transformed PSV measurements at the internal os was generated by polynomial regression. Results: There was a significant reduction in both the PI (14.9%) and the PSV (17.4%) when measured at the distal site compared to the level of the internal os (both p < 0.001). The best estimated 5th centile for uterine artery PSV at 11-13+6 weeks was 60.9 cm/s. Conclusion: PI measurements performed distal to the internal os are significantly lower and will result in inaccurate pre-eclampsia risk assessment. PSV measurements below 60 cm/s are likely to indicate an incorrect sampling site. Development of auditable measurement standards is important to ensure accuracy of prospective pre-eclampsia screening.

First trimester prediction of ischemic placental disease

Ischemic placental disease is characterized by one or more of the clinical manifestations of preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and/or placental abruption, resulting in indicated preterm delivery. Since over half of the indicated preterm deliveries are due to ischemic placental disease, accurate early prediction of the disease is of paramount importance in developing prevention strategies. This review article focuses on studies that have used the first trimester aneuploidy screening timing window to predict those patients who later develop ischemic placental disease. Emphasis was given to studies originating from the Fetal Medicine Foundation because of their uniformity in definitions and expertise of the personnel who performed the ultrasound screening exams.

Radiological anatomical study of the origin of the uterine artery

PURPOSE

To clarify the origin of the uterine artery and quantify its anatomical variants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We carried out a study based on dissections, intraoperative findings and retrospective analysis of arteriograms. Thirty female cadavers were dissected and bilaterally observed, with a total of 60 origins visualised. Fifty laparotomies were carried out during the treatment for pelvic neoplasms (100 origins observed) and 34 arteriograms performed for uterine fibroid embolisation were studied (58 origins visualised).

RESULTS

In total, 218 origins of the uterine artery were visualised. The uterine artery originated from a common trunk with the umbilical artery in 80.7% of cases. It arose separately from the internal iliac artery in 13.16% of cases and directly from the superior gluteal artery in 3.51% of cases. It branched from a common trunk with the internal pudendal artery in 1.75% of cases, whereas arose separately from the obturator artery in 0.88% of cases.

CONCLUSION

The uterine artery arose from a common trunk with the umbilical artery in the majority of the Caucasian population. Surgeons and radiologists should be aware of this mode of branching to facilitate surgery and interventional radiology and improve the safety of these procedures.