The Effect of Third Trimester Corticosteroid Therapy on Fetal Doppler Velocimetry in Gestational Hypertension Complicated By Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Author(s): Hany Maged Abd El Aal, Doaa Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Hassan

Background
Althouh there is a great advance in antenatal care, gestational hypertension still one of the major reasons of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. For this reason, early screening of gestational hypertension and fetal growth retardation can permit cautious antenatal monitoring and proper timing of delivery to steer clear of serious complications.

Patient and Methods
This is a prospective study that included 100 singleton pregnant women with gestational hypertension and complicated with IUGR fetuses who were divided into 2 groups (A and B), each group consists of 50 patients: All patients in group A subjected to fetal Doppler flow indices measurement before corticosteroid administration, and repeated within five days after its administration. Its effect on fetal outcome detected after termination of pregnancy. While women in group B included 50 patients who did not receive corticosteroid therapy. Fetal Doppler flow indices was measured, and after termination of pregnancy effect on fetal outcome was detected as well. 

Results
There was statistically significant difference between the study group after corticosteroid administration and the control group regarding the mean Doppler indices in the form of (MCA PI-RI, UMA PI-RI and CPR).  MCA shows higher values in study group after corticosteroid administration than the control group (PI 1.52 ± 0.10 and 1.5 ± 0.18 and RI from 0.78 ± 0.12 to 0.76 ± 0.02. While UMA shows lower values in study group after corticosteroid administration than the control group (PI 1.31 ± 0.16 and 1.36 ± 0.08 and RI 0.72 ± 0.01 and 0.73 ± 0.02. CPR also shows higher values in study group after corticosteroid administration than the control group 1.05 ± 0.05 and 1.04 ± 0.05.

Conclusio