Using ultrasound and Doppler ultrasound to assess vascular changes in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia: a systematic review

Objectives

This systematic review aimed to evaluate whether Doppler ultrasound of the ophthalmic artery and uterine artery, and ultrasound of flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery, can be used to effectively assess vascular function in pregnant women without disease or other complications with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia to establish the most appropriate method for evaluating these diseases.

Methods

Two databases were searched for relevant articles: the National Library of Medicine (PubMed) and the Virtual Health Library. Articles published between 1989 and 2014 about Doppler ultrasound of the ophthalmic artery were retrieved; all articles published from 2000 to 2014 about using ultrasound to assess flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery were retrieved; and for Doppler ultrasound of the uterine artery, only articles published between January 2013 and March 2014 were retrieved because the literature in this area is extensive.

Results

A total of 260 articles were retrieved; 32 were eligible for inclusion. There were 16 articles on using Doppler ultrasound to evaluate the ophthalmic artery and eight about using it to assess the uterine artery, and eight articles evaluated the use of ultrasound to assess flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery.

Conclusions

Doppler ultrasound is useful in diagnosing pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in pregnant women; the use of this technique makes early intervention feasible, and thereby improves prognosis; and it reduces the morbidity and mortality of pregnant women and their newborns.