Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal (Jun 2019)
DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF UTERINE ARTERY DOPPLER ULTRASOUND TO PREDICT PREECLAMPSIA IN PRIMIPAROUS FEMALES
Abstract
Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of Doppler ultrasonography during second trimester of pregnancy, to predict pre-eclampsia (PE) in primigravidas. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: MCH unit-II, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad, from Apr 2015 to Oct 2015. Material and Method: A total of 170 females were recruited for the study. Doppler ultrasound examination of the uterine artery (UA) was performed, using a color Doppler system. Doppler parameters including resistance index (RI) was calculated by the software supplied within the Doppler equipment. Females were labeled as positive if RI >0.7 and were labeled as negative if RI 0.7 in 82 (48.2%) females while it was <0.7 in 88 (51.8%) females. There were 82 (48.2%) females who developed PE while 88 (51.8%) females did not develop PE at 20th week of gestation. Thus the calculated sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of RI on Doppler USG were 85.4%, 86.4%, 85.4% and 86.4%. The overall diagnostic accuracy of RI was 85.9%. Conclusion: Doppler USG is accurate enough that in future we can rely on this tool for prediction of PE in primigravidas.
