Umbilical artery Doppler flow velocity waveforms and maternal prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha metabolite concentrations during cervical ripening with prostaglandin E2

Abstract

In 20 women, the umbilical artery flow velocity waveform (FVW) was recorded immediately before and 30-40 min after administering vaginal or extraamniotic prostaglandin E2 to ripen the cervix. Maternal plasma concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) metabolites (bicyclo-PGEM and PGFM, respectively) were measured at the time of the Doppler recordings. The administration of prostaglandin E2 was associated with a significant rise in maternal plasma PGFM and bicyclo-PGEM concentrations, but there was no change in the umbilical artery FVW Pulsatility index (PI). These results suggest that cervical ripening with local prostaglandin E2 has no effect on the umbilical artery FVW.