Correlation between Doppler flow patterns in growth-restricted fetuses and neonatal circulation

Objectives To investigate whether prenatal Doppler parameters in growth-restricted fetuses are correlated with neonatal circulatory changes.Methods In 43 cases of suspected fetal growth restriction (FGR), serial Doppler measurements of umbilical artery (UA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility index (PI) were performed. The last measurement, closest to delivery (= 34 weeks).Results Fetal Doppler parameters correlated with neonatal NIRS variables on Days 1-3: UA-PI correlated with renal FTOE (Day 1: rho=0.454, PConclusion Low MCA-PI and low CPR, indicating brain sparing before birth, are associated with low CRR after birth, indicating relatively greater blood flow to the cerebrum than to the renal region. Based on the results of this study, it could be speculated that if brain sparing is present in the fetal circulation, it persists during the first 3 days after birth. Copyright (C) 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.