THE PREDICTIVE VALUE OF DOPPLER FLOW VELOCITY WAVE-FORMS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ABNORMAL FETAL HEART-RATE TRACES IN INTRAUTERINE GROWTH-RETARDATION - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

In a longitudinal, blinded study design the predictive value of Dopple r velocimetry for the development of an abnormal fetal heart rate trac e was assessed in 42 cases of intrauterine growth retardation. Doppler velocity waveform recordings were obtained at 2- to 3-day intervals a nd characterized by the standard deviation score of the pulsatility in dex in the umbilical artery and internal carotid artery, and the peak systolic and time-averaged velocity in the ascending aorta and pulmona ry artery. Twenty-seven patients did not display an abnormal fetal hea rt rate trace on the day of entry into the study. During follow-up of these patients, the pulsatility index in the umbilical artery and inte rnal carotid artery were the most predictive parameters for the develo pment of an abnormal fetal heart rate trace. The resulting prognostic index was found to have an acceptable discriminative power in the pred iction of abnormal fetal heart rate traces as established in a second group of growth-retarded fetuses.