Uterine Artery Pulsatility Index as a Pre-eclampsia Predictor in the 3 Trimesters in Women with Singleton Pregnancies

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the mean uterine artery pulsatility index (UtAPI) in each trimester of pregnancy as a predictor of early or late pre-eclampsia (PE) in Colombian pregnant women. Methods The UtAPI was measured in singleton pregnancies in each trimester. Uterine artery pulsatility index as predictor of PE was evaluated by odds ratio (OR), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and Kaplan-Meier diagram. Results Analysis in the 1^st and 3^rd trimester showed that abnormal UtAPI was associated with early PE (OR: 5.99: 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.64–21.13; and OR: 10.32; 95%CI: 2.75–42.49, respectively). Sensitivity and specificity were 71.4 and 79.6%, respectively, for developing PE (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.922). The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that a UtAPI of 0.76 (95%CI: 0.58–1.0) in the 1^st trimester was associated with early PE, and a UtAPI of 0.73 (95%CI: 0.55–0.97) in the 3^rd trimester was associated with late PE. Conclusion Uterine arteries proved to be a useful predictor tool in the 1^st and 3^rd trimesters for early PE and in the 3^rd trimester for late PE in a pregnant population with high prevalence of PE. Objetivo Avaliar o índice médio de pulsatilidade da artéria uterina (UtAPI) em cada trimestre da gravidez como preditor de pré-eclâmpsia (PE) precoce ou tardia em gestantes colombianas. Métodos O UtAPI foi medido em gestações únicas em cada trimestre. O UtAPI como preditor de PE foi avaliado por odds ratio (OR), curvas receiver operating characteristic (ROC) e diagrama de Kaplan-Meier. Resultados A análise no 1° e 3° trimestres mostrou que um UtAPI anormal foi associado com PE inicial (OR: 5,99; intervalo de confiança [IC] 95%: 1,64–21,13; OR: 10,32; IC95%: 2,75–42,49, respectivamente). A sensibilidade e a especificidade foram de 71,4 e 79,6%, respectivamente, para o desenvolvimento de PE (area under the curve [AUC]: 0,922). A curva de Kaplan-Meier mostrou que um UtAPI de 0,76 (IC95%: 0,58–1,0) no 1° trimestre foi associado com PE precoce, e que um UtAPI de 0,73 (IC95%: 0,55–0,97) no 3° trimestre foi associado com PE tardia. Conclusão As artérias uterinas mostraram ser uma ferramenta preditora útil no 1° e 3° trimestres para PE inicial e no 3° trimestre para PE tardia em uma população de gestantes com alta prevalência de PE. All the authors contributed with the project and data interpretation, the writing of the article, the critical review of the intellectual content, and with the final approval of the version to be published. Received: 28 November 2020 Accepted: 13 October 2021 Publication Date: 21 December 2021 (online) © 2021. Federação Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda. Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil