Quantitative characterization of arcuate artery hemodynamic change in normal pregnancy with Doppler ultrasonography.

Using color and pulsed Doppler ultrasonography, arcuate arterial velocimetry was carried out in 91 normal women, at 16-40 weeks, menstrual age. The arcuate arterial hemodynamics was assessed by the calculation of the resistance index (RI). A curvilinear relationship was found between the RI value of the arcuate artery obtained from the placental site in the uterus and menstrual age (R2 = 0.328). The relationships between the RI value of the arcuate artery obtained from the nonplacental site (R2 = 0.268) or the averaged RI value between the placental and nonplacental sites (R2 = 0.321) and menstrual age were both linear. Normal ranges of RI values of arcuate arteries during pregnancy for the placental site, nonplacental site, and their average values were generated. These results provide a foundation for evaluating uteroplacental velocimetry in normal pregnancy using Doppler ultrasonography.