ABSENT END-DIASTOLIC FLOW OF UMBILICAL ARTERY DOPPLER - PREGNANCY OUTCOME IN 62 CASES

We retrospectively studied the outcome of pregnancy in 62 cases of abs ent end diastolic flow (AEDF) of umbilical artery Doppler flow velocit y waveform. The history of pregnancies revealed that nearly all were o f high risk. Many cases presented cerebral (65%) or uterine (55.5%) Do ppler flow abnormalities, or both (38%). We noted 10 fetal deaths and decided 7 pregnancy terminations. Malformation and chromosomal defect rate was 16%. We noted 44 (71%) live-births, a very high rate of cesar ean section (86%), prematurity (75%), small for gestational age (39%). Forty-five percent of the neonates had a 1-min Apgar score under 7, w hich dropped to 27% at 5 min. Neonate mortality rate was 6.9% and the total mortality rate was 34% (21/62). Morbidity was significant (7 cas es with severe morbidity, 2 cases with chromosomal abnormality of poor prognosis). We compared different sub-groups with a view to looking f or some prenatal factors which predict poor neonatal outcome in case o f AEDF.