The role of uterine artery Doppler index and nuchal translucency measurement in predicting perinatal problems and the gestational age in patients diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of uterine artery Doppler index and nuchal translucency (NT) measurement in determining perinatal problems in patients diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (HEG). Material and methods: We included 80 pregnant women between the ages of 19–40 years with a singleton, noncomplicated pregnancy, no systemic disease, and no structural and chromosomal disorders in the fetus, who were admitted to our hospital which is a tertiary center with a large patient population in the region, between October 2015 and October 2016 in this study. Further, two group were formed as 40 pregnant women with the diagnosis of HEG (group 1) and 40 pregnant women for control group (group 2). Age, body mass index (BMI), educational status,pregnancy history (live birth, miscarriages), smoking, alcohol consumption, substance use, last menstrual period, serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin, (free ß-hCG), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) levels, nuchal translucency (NT), and uterine artery Doppler measurement values were recorded. The data between two groups were compared. Results: The education level of the group 1 was found higher (p = 0.001). The frequency of smoking in group 1 (n = 18; 45%) was found significantly higher than group 2 (n = 3; 7.5%) (p = 0.001). In group 1, uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) values were found higher than group 2 (p = 0.026 and 0.024, respectively). Conclusion: The uterine artery Doppler PI, RI values measured at 20–24 weeks in patients with HEG were statistically significantly higher than those without HEG.