Total vascular resistance and left ventricular morphology as screening tools for complications in pregnancy

We evaluated the predictive value of elevated total vascular resistance on the outcome of pregnancy in normotensive high-risk primigravidas with bilateral notching of the uterine artery Doppler. A total of 526 high-risk primigravidas referred to the obstetrics outpatient clinic of Tor Vergata University with bilateral notching of the uterine artery at 20 to 22 weeks' gestation were submitted to a maternal echocardiographic examination and uterine artery Doppler evaluation at 24 weeks' gestation. Blood pressure was recorded at the time of the examination, total vascular resistance was calculated, and the geometric pattern of the left ventricle was assessed. Patients were followed until the end of pregnancy to detect fetal/maternal adverse outcomes (gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, abruptio placentae, fetal growth restriction, perinatal death, etc). A total of 111 of the 526 pregnancies showed a bilateral notch at 24 weeks' gestation, and 97 had an adverse outcome (18.44%). The best independent predictor for maternal and fetal complications was total vascular resistance (odds ratio: 91.25; 95% CI: 39.64 to 210.05; P<0.001). The cutoff value was 1400 dynes x s x cm(-5), with a sensitivity and a specificity of 89% and 94%, respectively. A high relative wall thickness of the left ventricle (>0.37; odds ratio: 2.47; 95% CI: 1.12 to 5.44) and a hypertrophized ventricle (left ventricular mass >130 g; odds ratio: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.12 to 5.64) were also independent predictors (P<0.05). Echocardiography might identify at 24 weeks' gestation patients who subsequently develop maternal and fetal complications through the assessment of maternal hemodynamics and left ventricular geometry.