Second-trimester Uterine Artery Doppler Pulsatility Index in Singleton Pregnant Women with and without Risk of Pre-eclampsia

Preeclampsia (PE) is gestational hypertension and one of the most serious disorders in pregnant women. This study aimed to compare second-trimester uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index (UA-PI) in singleton pregnant women with and without risk of PE. A case-control study was carried out among 200 singleton pregnant women in the second trimester of pregnancy, who were referred to Imam Hospital in Ahvaz (Iran). The data were recorded on their demographic, obstetric, clinical characteristics, and Doppler indices. The average UA-PI value was considered as the mean PI between the right and left arteries. Women who were categorized into Groups 1 and 2 had a moderate-high and low risk of PE, respectively. The mean UA-PI, right UA-PI, left UA-PI, systolic and diastolic blood pressures (BP), age, body mass index (BMI), and abdominal circumference (AC) of women in Group 1 were significantly higher than those in Group 2 (p<0.05). Furthermore, Group 1 had a higher frequency of abortions, comorbidities, abnormal UA Doppler results, and nulliparous women than Group 2 (p<0.05). Based on maternal age (<35, ≥35), BMI (<25, ≥25), comorbidities (yes, no), and nulliparity (yes, no) categories, those who were in Group 1 had a significantly higher mean systolic and diastolic BP, UA-PI, right UA-PI, and left UA-PI than their counterparts in Group 2 (P<0.001). This study declared the second-trimester UA-PI had good potential for timely prediction of PE risk in pregnant women.