EP17.08: Maternal characteristics and ultrasonographic markers in third trimester might predict late gestational hypertension.

Abstract

Brief Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess potential ultrasound markers during third trimester ultrasound growth scan measurements (29-32 weeks' gestation) to predict late onset gestational hypertension. Materials & Methods: This was a case-control study. Singleton pregnancies affected by late onset gestational hypertension (after 34 weeks' gestation) and normal pregnancies were considered. In all pregnancies were available ultrasound examination (fetal biometry, maternal-fetal Doppler, fetal aorta intima media thickness(aIMT), and fetal kidney volumes) as well clinical data (age, BMI, parity, and pregnancy outcomes). Data was analyzed using R software (version 2.15.2). Clinical Cases or Summary Results: Gestational age at delivery was 36.98 weeks (±1.41) in cases and 39.27 weeks (±1.5) in controls (p<0.05). At the growth scan (29-32 weeks' gestation) we found in late hypertension significantly higher fetal aIMT thickness, umbilical arteries pulsatility index (PI), mean uterine arteries PI or resistance index (RI) with persistent bilateral notch. In multivariate logistics regression analysis we found that aIMT, umbilical artery PI, woman age, and pre-gravidic BMI were the most predictive values and the AUC of the model was 85.4% (CI.95 75.4-95.4%) Conclusions: This study showed that higher fetal aIMT thickness, umbilical arteries pulsatility index (PI), mean uterine arteries PI or resistance index (RI) with persistent bilateral notch might predict late hypertension in pregnancy, moreover the most predictive markers were aIMT, umbilical artery PI, woman age, and pregravidic BMI.