Usefulness and precaution in the application of the Doppler velocimetry of uterine artery in predicting intrauterine growth retardation

The presence of diastolic uterine artery (UA) notch in 24 to 26 weeks of gestation and the increased in pulsatility index (PI) and resistivity index (RI) value of the UA can predict high risk pregnancy for intrauterine growth retardation in the western population. From a pilot of 269 apparently normal pregnancy, 26 had a diastolic notch. The incidence in HK Chinese was 9.7%. This compares with Harrington: 8.3%. However the incidence of low birth weight in HK Chinese is about 2.9% compared with the UK 8.7%. Indicating that the UA notch is probably insensitive in Chinese pregnancies. Among the 269 pregnancies, 124 pregnancies have placental location of either in the right or left side. The PI and RI of placental side was lower (0.82 and 0.49) than the non-placental side (0.98 and 0.55) with p value <0.05. Therefore the establishment of normal values need to take placental location in consideration.