The aim was to analyze the histopathologic changes of placentas and to compare them to the results of arcuate artery color Doppler velocimetry. Fifty four placentas were from pregnancies complicated with pre-eclampsia that ranged from mild forms to convulsions (group 1), 42 from pregnancies complicated with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (group 2) and 40 from uncomplicated pregnancies (group 3). The arcuate artery resistance index (AARI) was increased in 66.66% in group 1 and 59.52% in group 2 (NS). In all uncomplicated pregnancies (group 3) AARI was normal. In group 2, increased AARI was significantly more frequently associated with minimal hypoxic damage (MHD) of placental tissue than in group 1 (p < 0.005), whereas multiple infarcts were more common in group 1 than in group 2 (p < 0.005). At normal AARI multiple infarcts were significantly more frequently found in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.005), whereas normal placental findings were significantly more common in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001). Hypoxic lesions were significantly more often associated with increased AARI (p < 0.01). The positive predictive value of arcuate artery color Doppler velocimetry for hypoxic placental lesions was 93%, and negative predictive value was 10%. Sensitivity and specificity of the method in the prediction of hypoxic placental lesions was 62% and 91%, respectively.