Objective: To evaluate the prognostic significance of the interaction between umbilical artery (UA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) Doppler measurements in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR).
Design: Cohort study.
Setting: Third-level Perinatology Center in Northern Italy.
Population: A study of 184 singleton pregnancies at 24-35 weeks' gestational age complicated by FGR and abnormal UA Doppler measurements.
Methods: FGR was diagnosed by serial ultrasonograms. Neonatal brain damage was defined as the presence of cystic leukomalacia or grade III-IV intraventricular hemorrhage.
Main outcome measures: Perinatal death and neonatal brain damage.
Results: The prevalence of fetal/neonatal death or brain damage was 18.2% (16/88) in pregnancies with UA absent/reversed diastolic flow and 4.2% (4/96) in those with increased UA Doppler pulsatility. Stepwise logistic regression identified decreasing gestational age (OR=1.75, 95% confidence interval, CI=1.35-2.22) and absent/reversed UA blood flow (OR=3.34, 95% CI=1.1-10.9) as predictors of fetal/neonatal death or brain damage. A MCA pulsatility index below the 10th percentile was a risk factor for fetal/neonatal death or brain damage among women with absent/reversed UA diastolic flow (14/53 as compared to 2/35; OR=5.9, CI =1.4-40.3) but not in pregnancies with forward velocity (1/33 as compared to 3/63; OR=0.63, 95% CI=0.02-6.13, Synergy index=27.7, p=0.007).
Conclusions: In pregnancies complicated by FGR and absent/reversed UA end diastolic flow, vasodilatation of the MCA is a risk factor for neonatal death or brain damage.