Comparison of Outcome of Normal and High-Risk Pregnancies Based Upon Cerebroplacental Ratio Assessed by Doppler Studies.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the cerebroplacental ratio which is the ratio of pulsatility index of fetal middle cerebral and umbilical arteries, in normal and high-risk pregnancies during 30-36 weeks of gestation.

METHODS

In this study, we included 70 patients, who were scanned for Doppler parameters of Middle cerebral artery and Umbilical artery pulsatility index ratio of fetus, between 30 and 36 weeks, and then were followed till delivery. Thirty-five patients with normal pregnancy and 35 patients with high-risk pregnancy were included. Perinatal outcome was evaluated in relation to indices ratio.

RESULTS

There was cerebroplacental ratio of <1.00 in eight cases of the study group in comparison with the control group in which there is no case of <1.00 value. It was associated with poor perinatal outcome in terms of need for lower segment cesarean section for fetal distress, Apgar <8 at 5 min, and admission to nursery.

CONCLUSION

Cerebroplacental ratio is highly sensitive in diagnosing hemodynamically compromised fetuses and very useful for the prediction of adverse perinatal outcome in these fetuses.