A recent study published in the American Journal of Perinatology claims uterine artery Doppler can be used in the first trimester to predict the possibility of recurrent preeclampsia. Slightly more than 1,800 pregnant women between 11 and 13 weeks gestation were included in the study. All women had experienced preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy. Data was collected by researchers at the Universite Laval in Quebec City.
Using UTPI (uterine artery pulsatility index), researchers estimated risk of preeclampsia, (early, median and late), SGA (small for gestational age) and risk of perinatal death. With UTPI scores less than 1.0 MoM (multiple of median), risk of preeclampsia was lowest. As MoM increased, so did risk of preeclampsia.
Overall risk of complications during pregnancy showed noted increase when MoM levels increased to more than 1.0. Patients measuring MoM between 1.0 and 1.4 were in intermediate risk of preeclampsia. When MoM increased to 1.5 or above, patients were most likely to suffer recurrent preeclampsia.
Source: Demers S, Bujold E, Arenas E, Castro A, Nicolaides KH. Prediction of Recurrent Preeclampsia Using First-Trimester Uterine Artery Doppler. Am J Perinatol. 2013 Mar 18.