Fetal Renal Artery Doppler in Patients With Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a major devastating medical condition that affects pregnant women after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It affects 2:10% of pregnancies worldwide according to World Health Organisation with higher incidence in developing countries.

Vascular endothelial dysfunction due to abnormal placentation is believed to be the main cause of multi-organ failure and uteroplacental insufficiency that occur in preeclampsia leading to major adverse effects in both mother and fetus.

Placental insufficiency causes a redistribution of fetal blood to essential organs ; brain, heart and adrenal glands by decreasing their vascular resistance on expense of peripheral organs. Changes occur in fetal renal circulation in preeclampsia is still area of debate with conflicting results in literature. Doppler ultrasound examination of vasculature of selected organs such as kidneys may have a role in detection of hemodynamic rearrangements that occur in cases of placental insufficiency and preeclampsia.

Also, Three dimensional power Doppler plays a role in comprehensive analysis of placental perfusion. It has a promising results regarding prediction of preeclampsia during early pregnancy and may have insights into prediction of adverse neonatal outcomes in late trimester.

Inclusion criteria

• a) Preeclampsia:

• Women with preeclampsia >28 weeks of pregnancy.
• Singleton pregnancy.
• Women with intrauterine growth restriction and abnormal amniotic fluid volume to simulate real world data.

b) Control:

• Women with healthy pregnancy matched by closest gestational age.

Exclusion criteria

• ● Multiple pregnancy.

• Known Congenital fetal malformations.
• Women with other comorbidity such as ischemic heart disease, DM, Autoimmune disorders, kidney disease, neurological disorders, liver or haematological disorders.
• Women unable to provide informed consent.
• Women who refuse to participate