Correlation of Uterine Artery Doppler Velocimetry With Laboratory Findings in Patients With Severe Preeclampsia Presenting to Kenyatta National Hospital
Abstract
Background
Preeclampsia complicates 2-8% of pregnancies worldwide and it is a recognized cause of maternal
morbidity and mortality. Uterine artery Doppler velocimetry is a non-invasive method that is utilized in
pregnancy to monitor both the foetus and the mother. Uterine artery Doppler studies are currently
performed in patients with preeclampsia and they can, therefore be used to predict the presence or absence
of abnormal laboratory findings in these patients, and therefore, expedite referral and management.
Objective
The purpose of this study was to correlate the uterine artery Doppler waveforms and indices with
laboratory findings in consenting obstetric patients presenting to Kenyatta National Hospital, with severe
preeclampsia
Methodology
A prospective cross-sectional study of patients presenting to Kenyatta National Hospital maternity ward
with severe preeclampsia was conducted between November 2020 and April 2021. We recruited 80
pregnant women with singleton pregnancies above 20 weeks’ gestation, however 3 were later excluded,
leaving a total of 77 patients. A structured questionnaire was used for demographic, clinical and
radiological data. An obstetric ultrasound, including bilateral uterine artery Doppler studies was performed.
Laboratory values of Aspartate transaminase (AST) & alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine levels
and platelet counts obtained soon after admission were recorded into the data abstraction form. The data
was then entered into and analysed on R Studio software using R version 4.0.2 and was presented on tables
and graphs.
Results
Out of 77 patients, abnormal uterine artery Doppler findings were seen in 64 (83.1%) patients. Liver
dysfunction, renal impairment or thrombocytopenia was found present in 26 (33.8%) patients. Abnormally
elevated ALT levels were recorded in 13 (16.0%) compared to 8 (10.4%) patients with abnormally elevated
AST levels. There was an association between uterine artery notching, abnormal uterine artery resistive
indices and elevated ALT [OR = 74.85, 95% (CI 8.07 – 2035.35)] and [OR = 16.24, 95% (CI 2.52 –
335.80)] respectively. Elevated creatinine levels were seen in 14 (18.2%) patients and there was a
significant association between uterine artery notching and elevated creatinine [OR = 6.15, 95% (CI 1.56 –.........................................................................
Publisher
Uon
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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