Fetal Renal Artery Doppler in Patients With Preeclampsia and Its Role in Prediction of Adverse Neonatal Outcomes

Preeclampsia is a major devastating medical condition that affects pregnant women after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It affects 2:10% of pregnancies worldwide according to World Health Organisation with higher incidence in developing countries. Vascular endothelial dysfunction due to abnormal placentation is believed to be the main cause of multi-organ failure and uteroplacental insufficiency that occur in preeclampsia leading to major adverse effects in both mother and fetus. Placental insufficiency causes a redistribution of fetal blood to essential organs ; brain, heart and adrenal glands by decreasing their vascular resistance on expense of peripheral organs such as kidney which exhibit increased vascular resistance and impaired perfusion. This is in contrast to normal pregnancies near term in which renal vascular resistance falls and increased blood flow to the kidneys is observed. Doppler ultrasound examination of vasculature of selected organs such as kidneys may have a role in detection of hemodynamic rearrangements that occur in cases of placental insufficiency and preeclampsia.