Intervillous circulation and spiral artery blood flow in women with proteinuric pregnancy-induced hypertension assessed by color and pulsed Doppler ultrasound

Objectives This study was performed in order to compare vascular impedance and blood flow velocity in the spiral arteries (SA) and intervillous space (IVS) of pregnancies complicated with proteinuric pregnancy-induced hyperte nsion (PPIH) and normotensive controls. Methods One hundred and six women were included in a cross-sectional study using transabdominal color flow and pulsed Doppler imaging. Fifty-three wer e normotensive with singleton uncomplicated pregnancies and they have been matched to the same number of women with PPIH. Blood flow in IVS and spiral arteries was visualized by color Doppler and hemodynamic characteristics w ere assessed by means of impedance indices and blood flow velocity. Results Resistance and pulsatility indices were significantly higher in wom en with PPIH compared to the. control group of normotensive women (p < 0.05 ). Regarding blood flow velocities, they were significantly higher in SA in cases of PPIH compared to the normotensive controls, while the opposite ob servation was noted in the IVS. Both of these differences were statisticall y significant (p < 0.05). Conclusions Hemodynamic characteristics observed in this study are suggesti ve of an impaired blood flow and decreased blood exchange rate in the IVS o f patients with PPIH.