Effect of hemodialysis on uterine and umbilical artery Doppler flow velocity waveforms.

A case of a pregnant woman with membranous glomerulonephropathy requiring hemodialysis is described. During hemodialysis the patient underwent Doppler flow studies of the uterine and umbilical arteries. In spite of avoidance of hypotension and major fluid shifts, hemodialysis was accompanied by a significant increase in the systolic/diastolic ratio of the proximal uterine artery. There was no significant change in the umbilical artery systolic/diastolic ratio.