Foetal Doppler abnormality is associated with increased risk of sepsis and necrotising enterocolitis in preterm infants.

AIM: Fetoplacental Doppler abnormalities have been associated with increased neonatal mortality and morbidity. This study evaluated the associations between prenatal Doppler assessments and neonatal mortality and morbidity in premature infants born small for gestational age or after pre-eclampsia.

METHODS: This was a population-based study of infants born alive at 22(0) -33(6) weeks of gestation, a birthweight <10th percentile for gestational age and/or maternal pre-eclampsia. Doppler assessments of the umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery and ductus venosus were evaluated in 127, 125 and 95 cases, respectively. Circulatory compromise was defined as absent or reversed end-diastolic velocity in the umbilical artery (AREDF), middle cerebral artery pulsatility index <2.5 percentile for gestational age and ductus venosus pulsatility index for veins >97.5 percentile.

RESULTS: AREDF was present in 28% of the infants. This was associated with increased frequencies of neonatal sepsis and necrotising enterocolitis after adjusting for gestational age. Abnormal ductus venosus pulsatility index for veins was associated with increased risk of neonatal sepsis, but only in combination with AREDF. These associations were only present when gestational age was <28 weeks.

CONCLUSION: AREDF was associated with increased neonatal morbidity in premature infants born small for gestational age or after pre-eclampsia.