The predictive value of uterine artery flow velocity waveforms in miscarriage in older women.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether uterine artery blood flow velocity measurements can predict miscarriage in older women.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SUBJECTS

Three hundred and ninety-three women aged 35 years and older in the first trimester of pregnancy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Miscarriage, genetic abortion, pulsatility index (PI), maternal age, gestational age at intake.

RESULTS

Twenty women miscarried; 10 pregnancies were terminated because of chromosomal anomalies. Maternal age and gestational age at intake were significantly associated with miscarriage rate (P = 0.01 and P = 0.001, respectively). Uterine artery PI values declined significantly during the first trimester (P = 0.001). However, no association was found between uterine artery PI values and miscarriage rate. PI, maternal age and gestational age at intake were not essentially different between women who miscarried before or after chorionic villus sampling. No association was found between PI, maternal age, and gestational age at intake and genetic abortion rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Uterine artery blood flow velocity waveforms, as expressed by the pulsatility index, bear no relation to miscarriage.