Diagnostic value of prenatal ultrasound for detecting abnormal fetal blood flow

We aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of color Doppler ultrasound in detecting abnormal blood flow in the fetal umbilical artery (UA), renal artery (RA), and middle cerebral artery (MCA) in order to reduce the incidence of birth defects.

The clinical records of 186 pregnant women who received color Doppler ultrasound assessment in UA, RA, and MCA were retrospectively analyzed. Of them, 95 normal pregnant women were assigned to the control group, whereas 91 high-risk pregnant women who later gave birth to babies with defects or had poor pregnancy outcomes in late-term were assigned to the study group. Color Doppler flow imaging was used to monitor the levels of the hemodynamic markers in UA, RA, and MCA of the 186 fetuses.

Compared with the control group, the study group had lower peak systolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity in UA and RA, higher values of pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and peak systolic velocity/end-diastolic velocity (S/D) ratio in RA, and lower values of PI, RI, and S/D ratio in UA and MCA (all P<0.05).

Color Doppler ultrasound is a sensitive, easy-to-use, and safe technique in examining fetal blood flow change. It can provide a comprehensive and objective evaluation of the fetus in the uterus and help clinicians to decide on subsequent diagnosis and treatment plans.