[Doppler ultrasonography--perinatal data in cases with end-diastolic block and reverse flow]

In 50 cases with an end-diastolic zero flow or reverse flow all antenatal and perinatal abnormalities have been recorded. The fetal outcome was registered. The percentage of highly dystrophic newborns (percentile less than 5) was 88%. The perinatal mortality counted up to 16% and the percentage of congenital malformations (including chromosomal anomalies) was 12%. A reverse flow was registered in 4 cases. The perinatal mortality of those cases with reverse flow was 100%. In approx. one-quarter of those pregnancies and in 50% of the perinatally deceased newborns, there were no pathological or suspicious changes in the antepartal and/or subpartal CTG-recordings. The Duplex sonographical diagnosis of an end-diastolic zero flow/reverse flow, has a highly positive predictive value, whereas its sensitivity is low. It can be regarded as a very helpful parameter in clinical diagnosis, particularly as it is independent of borderline values. The correct choice of the high-pass wall filter (50-100 Hz) is important.