Abstract

Objective: To study the uterine blood flow in early pregnancy, which might provide information about maternal neonatal outcome. Methods: Pilot study was undertaken by measuring uterine artery resistance index (UARI) at (10依2) weeks. Results: Of study subjects 801 primigravida without past, present obstetric disorder, 307 (38.3%) had mean UARI above 95th centile, 494 (61.7%) below 5th centile. Mean UARI above 95th centile of women had pregnancy problems (foetal growth restriction, hypertensive disorders, placental abruption, oligohydramnios) compared to below 5th centile. Of 307 women with mean UARI above 95th percentile, hypertensive disorders occurred in 53 (17.3%) and 21 (40%) with foetal growth restriction. Of 494 with mean UARI below 5th percentile, 30 (6.1%) developed hypertensive disorders (P<0.00006), 4 (13.3%) had FGR (P<0.00006). Placental abruption, occurred in 37 (7.48%) and in 10 (2.02%) with mean UARI above 95th percentile and below 5th percentile (P<0.001) respectively. There were 143 caesarean births, statistically significantly more for foetal distress in with UARI above 95th percentile. With mean UARI above 95th centile, 296 (96.41%) had term, 11 (3.58%) preterm births. Of 67 (21.82%) caesarean births at term, 17 (25.4%) were for foetal distress, with mean UARI below 5th centile, 487 (98.58%) had term births. Conclusions: Women with higher UARI in first trimester had more often hypertensive disorders, placental abruption, oligohydramnios, caesarean births and foetal distress.

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