Abstract:
Background and Objectives: Objective of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of middle cerebral artery and
umbilical artery Doppler indices as predictors of adverse perinatal out come in clinically suspected IUGR pregnancies
and to establish the role of Doppler ultrasound in the management of IUGR pregnancy. Materials and Methods: We
studied Doppler Velocimetry of umbilical artery and Middle cerebral artery in 40 cases with clinical suspicion of IUGR
between 31 to 40 weeks of gestation .Pulsatility Index was used as the Doppler index. Pregnancies with documented
major congenital abnormality, multiple gestations and intrauterine death at the time of first Doppler examination were
excluded from the study. Results: Cerebroplacental ratio (MCA/UA PI Ratio) was most sensitive (sensitivity 95%). It
was more sensitive than either UA PI (sensitivity 90%) or MCA PI (sensitivity 76.19%) alone in predicting any adverse
outcome. Diagnostic accuracy of Cerebroplacental ratio (Accuracy=92.50%) was better than UA PI (Accuracy=80%) and
MCA PI (Accuracy=62.5%) in predicting adverse outcomes Conclusion: Fetal Doppler indices, in particular ratios that
include measurements obtained from the cerebral circulation, help in the recognition of the compromised growth-retarded
fetus.
