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(Radiology. 1999;213:423-428.)
© RSNA, 1999

Ultrasonography

Pulsed Doppler US Findings of Renal Interlobar Arteries in Pregnancy-induced Hypertension1

Akihito Nakai, MD, Hirobumi Asakura, MD, Atsuko Oya, MD, Akishige Yokota, MD, Tatsuo Koshino, MD and Tsutomu Araki, MD

1 From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tama Nagayama Hospital, Nippon Medical School, 1-7-1 Nagayama, Tama-shi, Tokyo, 206-8512 Japan. Received May 1, 1998; revision requested July 6; final revision received February 11, 1999; accepted June 8. Address reprint requests to A.N. (e-mail: Nakai_Akihito/obgy@nms.ac.jp).

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether Doppler ultrasonographic (US) velocimetry in renal interlobar arteries is altered in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) compared with that in healthy pregnant and nonpregnant women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Flow waveform measurements in renal interlobar arteries were obtained in 39 nonpregnant women, 77 healthy pregnant women at 16–40 weeks gestation, and 15 women with PIH at 28–39 weeks gestation by using color and pulsed Doppler US.

RESULTS: In the nonpregnant group, the mean (± SD) peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic blood flow velocity, resistive index, and acceleration time were 0.34 m/sec ± 0.08, 0.14 m/sec ± 0.03, 0.62 m/sec ± 0.07, and 52.3 m/sec ± 13.7, respectively. In the healthy pregnant group, the peak systolic and end-diastolic blood flow velocities at 16 weeks gestation had decreased greatly by 40 weeks gestation. However, the values of other indexes in this group did not change with gestational age. In the PIH group, the acceleration time values were greatly prolonged compared with those in the other groups.

CONCLUSION: Acceleration time is one of the hemodynamic parameters of substantial upstream stenosis. These findings suggest that severe stenosis or continuous vasospasm in the proximal arteries, such as the main renal artery and segmental artery, might be implicated in the pathogenesis of PIH.

Index terms: Hypertension, 961.723 • Pregnancy, complications, 961.723 • Renal arteries, US, 961.12981, 961.12983, 961.12984 • Ultrasound (US), Doppler studies, 961.12981, 961.12983, 961.12984