The role of clinical and laboratory tests along with uterine artery Doppler indices in the prediction of pre-eclampsia and pregnancy outcome in Egypt

Abstract

Background and aim As the ideal test to predict pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia should be inexpensive, reproducible, easy to do early in pregnancy, and noninvasive and have high sensitivity, the aim of this study was to evaluate clinical parameters, laboratory tests, and uterine artery doppler indices in prediction of preeclampsia and pregnancy outcome. Patients and methods This study was carried out in the antenatal care clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Al Azhar University Hospital. The study included 177 pregnant women booked for antenatal care before 18 weeks of gestation, who were considered to be at increased risk of developing preeclampsia. Results Doppler flow velocimetry of the uterine artery at 18–20 and 22–24 weeks of gestation represents a useful predictive test in high-risk pregnancy and in predicting preeclampsia, when used as a single test. Microalbuminuria between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation, in the first morning urine specimen, is a good predictor for the subsequent development of preeclampsia. Conclusion When three tests were combined to test their ability to predict preeclampsia, the best triple tests were microalbuminuria, uterine artery doppler flow velocimetry study at 24–26 weeks of gestation, and mean platelet volume, which gave the highest value when κ test of agreement was used.

Keywords

• doppler flow velocimetry
• intrauterine growth retardation
• preeclampsia
• pregnancy
• uterine artery