Abstract:
Previous studies of the morphological variations and current data of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), has been obtained from the research conducted on adults (Teal et al. 1973) (Ciszek and Ząbek1992).They found that the diameters of the middle cerebral artery were larger in the male than in the female group, but the differences were not statistically significant. The mean middle cerebral artery diameter 2.41(±0.82mm) with insignificant differences were stated between age groups (Tarasów E et al 2007). Another research found that Diameter of M1 segment of the MCA increases approximately3times according linear functiony = −0.0705455 + 0.0043678*x with r=0.65 from 12 to40 weeks of gestation ,Analysis showed statistically significant differences mean value of M1 segment diameter between all GARGs .There is no statistically significant difference between diameters of left and right M1 segment of MCA in each GARG (J. Gielecki et al.2009). Recent research in twins found there was no significant difference in the MCA PI between the large and small fetuses while the MCA diameter was significantly increased show that measurement of MCA diameter can potentially be used as a tool for assessing resistance. (E. Barzilayet al.2014).
AIMS: To study the fetus MCA diameter using Doppler ultrasound in fetus complicated of maternal hypertension. METHODS:We conducted a Prospective cohort-study of fetuses based on 82 cases data in the UAE. The fetuses divided into two groups. The normal group reserve as a reference because there was no reference values available right now. Fetal assessment included estimated fetal weight, umbilical artery flow, MCA flow and MCA diameter. Paired statistical analysis was used to compare MCA diameter and MCA pulstittly index (PI) between the two groups and the correlation between them and gestational age.RESULTS: Inadequate cerebral perfusion was associated with decrease neonatal weight when pregnancies were complicated by hypertension. There was significant difference in MCA PI between the target and control fetuses, with negative correlation between MCA PI and GA. and no significant difference observed in MCA width between the target and control groups however the width increment markedly visible in target group with positive correlation with GA. the observed association between MCA width and MCA PI was insignificant in pregnancies with maternal hypertension -risk. CONCLUSIONS:
Measurement of fetus MCA diameter using Doppler ultrasound cannot provably be used as a tool for assessing vessel resistance. Further studies are needed to assess the accuracy andsensitivity of this method as well as the clinical significance of MCA dilatation in the presence of normal Doppler flow indexes.
