J. Kurmanavicius et al., Reference values of fetal peak systolic blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery at 19-40 weeks of gestation, ULTRASOUN O, 17(1), 2001, pp. 50-53
Objectives The objectives of this prospective study were (i) to establish n
ew reference values of peak systolic blood flow velocity measurement in the
fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA-PSV) following validated methodological
guidelines and (ii) to develop a method to calculate Z-scores of MCA-PSV.
Patients and Methods Cross-sectional data were obtained from 331 pregnant w
omen between 19 and 40 weeks' gestation. Reference ranges for MCA-PSV were
constructed and for each measurement linear regression models were fitted s
eparately to the mean and standard deviations (SD) as a function of gestati
onal age. An application to calculate Z-scores was developed. A comparison
was made between the reference ranges produced in our study and those of a
previous one.
Results A new chart, table of centiles and regression equations of MCA-PSV
are presented. Comparison of our reference ranges with ones produced in a p
revious study showed similar 5(th) centile values. However, the values for
the 50(th) and 95(th) centiles between 19 and 28 gestational weeks were low
er in our study.
Conclusions We have constructed reference ranges for MCA- PSV which, becaus
e they are derived from a larger number of examinations in the 15-20-week p
eriod and because the methodological flaws of the previously published stud
y have been eliminated, we consider to be more accurate and therefore more
useful for clinical practice.