Differences of the pulsatility index between the first and second trimester of pregnancy

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess pulsatility index (PI) in the uterine artery (UA) during the first and second trimester of pregnancy, and to compare them in the presence and in the absence of a uterine artery diastolic notch. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We carried out a longitudinal study on 44 normal women between the 8th-12th and on 29 in the 22th weeks of gestation. Doppler velocimetry was performed in both UA on the basis of (PI). We used a sample volume of 1mm, a filter of 50 to 100Hz, and an insonation angle below 60°. RESULTS: The first-trimester PI was higher from 8th to 12th than in the 22th weeks of gestation. The first-trimester PI with a notch was and 2,32 ± 0,79 and without a notch was 1,61 ± 0,78. In the second trimester PI with a notch was 1,03 ± 0,32 and without a notch was 0,63 ± 0,19. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, first-trimester PI is higher between the 8th-12th than in the 22th weeks of gestation. PI is higher in the presence than in the absence of a uterine artery diastolic notch.