CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH FETAL INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGES

Background and material. In order to evaluate cerebral blood flow chan ges associated with fetal intracranial hemorrhages, ultrasound and MRI examinations were carried out in four pregnancies with this complicat ion. Results. Increased resistance indices of the blood flow profile o f the middle cerebral artery were detected in three of the fetuses, tw o of them presenting retrograde diastolic flow. Flow became normalized in one case within four weeks, changing on the contralateral side to an increased diastolic flow pattern. Conclusion. Increased intracrania l pressure can cause these flow changes, but cerebral blood flow autor egulation need not be completely ruined in this complication.