THE DIAGNOSTIC-VALUE OF CONTINUOUS-WAVE D OPPLER VELOCIMETRY IN PREGNANCIES COMPLICATED BY DIABETES-MELLITUS

Doppler studies of umbilical, uterine and arcuate artery velocity wave forms were performed in 40 insulin-dependent diabetic women in the fi rst and second half of pregnancy. Using a continuous-wave Doppler devi ce, the resistance index (RI) was calculated to determine the degree o f vascular resistance in utero-placental and foeto-placental compartme nt. The 90th percentile was used to classify flow velocity profiles. I n addition, diastolic notching and incomplete registration of uterine and arcuate arteries were considered as an abnormal result in utero-pl acental perfusion. The prevalence of abnormal velocity wave forms in t his risk group was higher than in a non-diabetic population. No signif icant correlation was found between abnormal Doppler studies and White 's classification. Patients with vasculopathy represent a high-risk gr oup for foetal growth retardation, which may be detected early by umbi lical and especially uterine artery Doppler studies. Abnormal uterine and arcuate artery wave forms allowed identification of patients who d eveloped pregnancy-induced hypertension/preeclampsia.