Key result
Uterine artery notch predicts ~4x higher risk of poor perinatal outcome.
Why the study?
The predictive value of uterine artery Doppler waveforms in pregnancies with unexplained elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein was investigated.
Does the presence of a notch in uterine artery Doppler predict poor perinatal outcome in pregnant women with raised maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein?
Population
98 women with unexplained elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein at 18-22 weeks gestation
Comparison
Presence vs absence of a notch in uterine artery flow velocity waveform
Design
Prospective cohort study using continuous wave Doppler
Authors
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May support closer surveillance in elevated MSAFP pregnancies; extends Doppler observations but remains hypothesis-generating.
Cohort (n=98)
Does the presence of a notch in uterine artery Doppler predict poor perinatal outcome in pregnant women with raised maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein?
Absolute Event Rate: 72.2% vs 17.5%
The presence of a notch in the uterine artery flow velocity waveform is a strong predictor of poor perinatal outcome in pregnancies with unexplained elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein.
ARISTIDOU et al. (1990) conducted a cohort in Pregnancies with raised maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (n=98). Presence of a notch in uterine artery flow velocity waveform vs. Absence of a notch was evaluated on Poor perinatal outcome (perinatal death, very immature birth, or severe growth retardation). The presence of a notch in the uterine artery flow velocity waveform predicted poor perinatal outcome, occurring in 72.2% of pregnancies with a notch versus 17.5% without.
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