Blood viscosity and uterine artery flow velocity waveforms in pregnancy: a longitudinal study

In the course of pregnancy, whole blood viscosity (WBV) decreases, plasma viscosity (PV) increases and uteroplacental resistance to blood flow falls. According to the Hagen-Poiseuille law, viscosity influences resistance to blood flow. To investigate the contribution of these haemorheological changes to the decrease in resistance to blood flow in the uteroplacental circulation, a serial study was performed. Using blood viscosimetry and pulsed Doppler ultrasound recordings of the uterine arteries, 21 women with normal pregnancies were studied every 8 weeks from 12 weeks onwards. Statistical analysis revealed no significant relationship between WBV, PV and pulsatility index of the uterine arteries. It is concluded that the changes in blood viscosities are of minor influence on resistance to blood flow in the uteroplacental circulation throughout normal pregnancy. The vascular changes e.g. the considerable increase of the diameter of the spiral arteries have a much greater impact on resistance to blood flow.