Value of intraplacental villous artery Doppler measurements in severe preeclampsia

Blood flow velocity waveforms were recorded by color Doppler ultrasound from intraplacental villous and umbilical arteries in 20 normal and 23 severe preeclamptic pregnancies. The results of the resistance index measurements in intraplacental villous arteries were 0.51 +/- 0.037 and 0.55 +/- 0.052 in healthy controls and preeclamptics respectively, which was not significantly different. Resistance indices showed a decrease through the umbilical cord from fetus to placenta in both groups. We also noted that Doppler examination of the umbilical cord might be an early indicator of fetal compromise. Detectable intraplacental villous flows were in normal limits even in patients with abnormally high umbilical resistance indices and failure to detect villous artery color Doppler flow signals is probably associated with fetal compromise. We conclude that Doppler measurements from the intraplacental arteries cannot be used in clinical management of patients with severe preeclampsia.