Third-trimester uterine artery Doppler for prediction of adverse outcome in late small-and adequate for-gestational-age fetuses.

Abstract

Fetal growth restriction includes all those fetuses that do not reach their own growth potential due to placental insufficiency and therefore at higher risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. Identification and follow-up of these fetuses is essential to decrease this additional risk. Although estimated fetal weight under the 3rd centile and pathological cerebroplacental ratio are the most accepted predictive criteria, some evidence suggests that abnormal uterine artery Doppler may be a useful prognostic parameter in late-onset growth restriction fetuses at the moment of diagnosis. However, its prediction capacity as a standalone parameter is limited. In that context, integrated models of biometric and hemodynamic ultrasound parameters including uterine Doppler have been proposed as an effective approach to stratify the risk and improve perinatal outcomes. Moreover, an association of abnormal uterine artery Doppler and histological findings of placental underperfusion due to vascular obstruction has been described. Finally, it has also been suggested that the evaluation of uterine artery Doppler at third trimester in appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses could identify cases of subclinical placental insufficiency, but further evidence is needed to define such predictive strategies.