Doppler studies of the uteroplacental circulation in pregnancies complicated by diabetes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the uteroplacental side of the circulation in pregnancies complicated by diabetes. A total of 54 women with pregnancies complicated by diabetes underwent uterine and umbilical artery Doppler studies. Uterine Doppler velocity waveforms were not obtained in two women. The prevalence of abnormal uterine artery velocity waveforms was much higher than in a non-diabetic population (15.4% vs. 2%, p < 0.001). Those eight women with abnormal uterine Doppler studies had a statistically higher incidence of poor glycemic control, chronic hypertension, polyhydramnios, vasculopathy, pre-eclampsia, Cesarean births for fetal distress and newborns with respiratory distress syndrome. In this group of patients, the umbilical circulation was not considered to be a contributing factor in the development of problems. Copyright 1991 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology