Potential use of Doppler ultrasound in developmental pharmacology

The non-invasive study of the human fetal circulation is now possible using Doppler ultrasound techniques. Until recently, these methods have been used to study fetal physiology but are increasingly being used to assess the effect of maternally administered drugs on fetal cardiovascular dynamics. Drugs studied include established and experimental antihypertensive treatments, tocolytics and regional anaesthetics. This new application of Doppler ultrasound will increase our knowledge of drug effects in pregnancy and provides a new method of assessing novel treatments.