DOPPLER ASSESSMENT OF THE MATERNAL INTERLOBAR RENAL AND UTERINE ARTERIES IN MID-PREGNANCY IN WOMEN AT LOW AND HIGH-RISK FOR PREGNANCY-INDUCED HYPERTENSION

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship bet ween vascular resistance of the maternal intrarenal arteries and the m ain uterine arteries in pregnant women at low and high risk for pregna ncy-induced hypertension, Methods. The resistance indices (Rls) in the main uterine arteries and the interlobar branches of the right renal artery were measured by duplex Doppler sonography in 338 pregnant wome n at 21-24 weeks of gestation, including 175 women at high risk for pr egnancy-induced hypertension. Of those, 54 patients had repeat Doppler measurements during pregnancy. Results. Cross-sectional data showed n o correlation between the Rls in the right interlobar renal arteries a nd either uterine artery. Furthermore, no relationship existed between persistent diastolic notching in the uterine arteries and the RI in t he renal circulation. The mean renal artery RI was 0.62. Compared to t hat in patients with a normal outcome, the renal artery RI was not sig nificantly different in patients who developed proteinuric pregnancy-i nduced hypertension (PPIH) or severe pregnancy-induced hypertension (P IH) later during pregnancy. Multiple analysis of variance for longitud inal data showed no correlation between the RI in the maternal renal a rteries and gestational age, severe PIH, or PPIH. Conclusions. The Rls in the maternal intrarenal arteries and the main uterine arteries are not related to each other in pregnant women, even in patients with ab normal uterine artery Doppler findings, severe PIH, or PPIH. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.