European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: Preeclampsia is a multi-system disorder of pregnancy that manifests after 20 weeks of pregnancy in previously normotensive women. It is characterised by new-onset hypertension (systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 140 and 90 mm Hg, respectively, on two occasions, at least 6 hours apart) and proteinuria (protein excretion of 300 mg in a 24 hr urine collection, or a dipstick of ≥ 2+). AIM: To evaluate the utility of placental laterality and uterine artery doppler in the prediction of preeclampsia. Material & Methods: Study Design: A prospective hospital based observational study. Study area: Department of Radio diagnosis, Anil Neerukonda Hospital.  Study Period: 1st January 2020 to June 2021. Study population: All Antenatal cases referred to the department of Radio-Diagnosis for clinically suspected Pre-eclampsia.  Sample size: study consisted of 86 subjects.  Sampling method: Simple random technique. EQUIPMENT: The study will be performed using Philips AFFINITY 50G ultrasound machine using a 3-7C curvilinear probe. SCANNING TECHNIQUE: A written informed consent was taken before performing the scan. The scan was performed with patient in supine position and moderately distended bladder. Data Collection: Basic demographic details, clinical data obtained from study subjects were recorded in a pre-designed proforma. Location of the placenta and uterine artery doppler velocimetry was performed by using convex probe. During the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, ultrasound was used to identify uterine arteries on each side of the uterocervical junction. In third trimester it was seen at the crossover of external iliac vessels. Sample box was 2mm. Insonation angle was less than 60 degrees. Angle dependent Doppler indices are obtained during each examination. Results: In our study 63 (74%) subjects had central placenta and 23(26%) subjects had laterally located placenta. Fourteen of the 86 patients developed preeclampsia; eight (57%) had unilaterally located placentas while only six had centrally located placentas. According to our study, 8 (34%) out of 23 women bearing lateral placentas alone developed preeclampsia whereas 6 (85%) out of 7 women bearing lateral placentas with Doppler abnormalities developed preeclampsia. Conclusion: A lateral placenta puts a pregnant woman at significant risk of developing preeclampsia. In lateral placentas co-occurring with uterine artery Doppler abnormalities, preeclampsia risk significantly increases as compared to those of lateral placentas alone