A Study of Fetal Umbilical Artery Velocimetry and Placental Thickness in Diabetic Pregnancy

Abstract

Doppler ultrasound of the umbilical artery is a method for evaluating fetoplacental blood flow. Together with the measurement of the placental thickness, Ultrasongraphy becomes an important way of assessing high risk pregnancy caused by diabetes. Objective: Our purpose in this study was to evaluate the effect of diabetes on fetal umbilical artery blood flow and the placental thickness. Study design: Doppler measurements of umbilical artery indices and placental thickness were taken in 50 diabetic pregnant women in the third trimester, 25 with gestational diabetes and 25 with preexisting diabetes together with 10 normal control group. The study was carried out in El Academy Charity Hospital in Khartoum. Results: The placental thickness, S/D ratio, pulstility index and resistance index correlated significantly with the mean of average glucose level. The difference between the mean thickness of the placenta in the normal control group and tested group was 3.18 cm and 5.15 cm respectively. This was significant at p=0.05 using t-test with t=14.28 and p<0.000. Likewise, the difference in S/D ratio with the mean of 2.53 and 2.76 respectively in the control and test groups, was significant at p=0.05 using t-test with t=2.13 and p<0.004. The difference in PI was also significant between the control group and test group with the mean of 0.81 and 0.92 respectively. p=0.05 using t-test at t=2.79 and p< 0.003. RI mean readings were 0.52 and 0.63 in the control and test groups respectively. The difference was significant at p= 0.05 using t-test at t=3.79 and p<0.000. Conclusions: The results showed that there has been a significant correlation between the average glucose level and umbilical artery indices and placenta thickness. The difference between test and control group was significant in all umbilical artery indices and placenta thickness. Surveillance of high-risk fetuses with ultrasound assessment of the umbilical artery and placenta could result in decrease in fetal mortality and morbidity.