Objective: This study aimed to estimate the performance of first-trimester uterine artery (UtA) pulsatility index (PI) for the prediction of preeclampsia (PE).
Study design: We conducted a prospective cohort study of nulliparous women with singleton gestation at 11 to 13 6/7 weeks. UtA-Doppler's was performed on both UtAs and the mean UtA-PI was reported in multiple of median (MoM) adjusted for gestational age. Using receiver operating characteristic curves and their area under the curves (AUC); we calculated the performance of UtA-PI for the prediction of PE. Proportional hazard models were used to develop prediction models combining UtA-PI and maternal characteristics.
Results: Out of 4,676 participants with completed follow-up, 232 (4.9%) developed PE, including 202 (4.3%) term and 30 (0.6%) preterm PE. Mean UtA-PI decreased with gestational age between 11 and 13 6/7 weeks (p < 0.001). First-trimester UtA-PI was associated with preterm (AUC: 0.69; 95% CI [confidence interval]: 0.57-0.80) but not with term (AUC: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.48-0.56) PE. UtA-PI combined with maternal characteristics could predict 45% of preterm PE at a false positive rate of 10%.
Conclusion: First-trimester UtA-PI decreases with gestational age between 11 and 13 6/7 weeks and is associated with the risk of preterm but not term PE.
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.