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. 2020 Oct;151(1):134-140.
doi: 10.1002/ijgo.13294. Epub 2020 Jul 24.

Normative references and clinical correlates of fetal umbilical artery Doppler indices in southwestern Nigeria

Ibraheem O Awowole  1 , Oluwafemi Kuti  1 , Christianah M Asaleye  2 , Olusegun O Badejoko  1 , Sekinah B Bola-Oyebamiji  3 , Richard B Olatunji  4 , Oluwaseun O Sowemimo  5 , Sidikat A Ayodele  6
Affiliations

Normative references and clinical correlates of fetal umbilical artery Doppler indices in southwestern Nigeria

Ibraheem O Awowole et al. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: To derive normative references for umbilical artery (UA) Doppler indices, including pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and systolic/diastolic (SD) ratio, for singleton pregnancies in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and compare them with reference values from other populations.

Methods: A longitudinal study involving 415 women with a singleton fetus at 26-40 gestational weeks attending Obafemi Awolowo University Hospital, Ile-Ife, between July 2015 and March 2019. Fetal UA PI, RI, and SD ratio were measured every 4 weeks until delivery. Reference values from the 2.5th to the 97.5th centiles were derived from 1375 measurements. Correlations between indices and bio-demographic characteristics were assessed; regression equations were generated.

Results: The RI, PI, and SD ratio decreased by 0.013, 0.027, and 0.71, respectively, for each additional week of pregnancy. There was a negative correlation between the three indices and birthweight (P<0.001), but not maternal parity, age, or fetal gender. Regression equations for RI, PI, and SD ratio were, respectively, 1.004 - 0.013x, 1.78 - 0.027x, and 4.77 - 0.71x, where x is gestational age (weeks).

Conclusion: The derived normative references for fetal UA Doppler indices are recommended for monitoring high-risk pregnancies in Nigeria. The indices are comparable to those derived from Norwegian, Thai, and British cohorts.

Keywords: Fetal growth restriction; Fetal umbilical artery Doppler; Nigeria; Pulsatility index; Reference ranges; Resistance index; Stillbirth; Systolic/diastolic ratio.

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References

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