Real-time ultrasound in the detection of intrauterine growth retardation in preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: An early identification of eventual intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and fetus development using an ultrasound method.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia (PIH) complicates from 5 to 10% of pregnancies and it is a leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity.

METHODS: The study was conducted during a 2 year period based on patients between 15 and 41 years, divided in two groups: group A based on 67 preeclamptic patients, and group B based on 129 normotensive pregnancises.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The fetuses from group A were suspected from IUGR (p<0.05). Based on our study it can be concluded that IUGR is the main complication of the fetus in the hypertensive pregnancy. The most common type of restriction in PIH was the asymmetric type of IUGR. In PIH pregnancies, there could be a faster aging of the placenta and oligohydramnion (Tab. 9, Fig. 7, Ref. 20). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.