XXXX associated changes in umbilical artery flow velocity waveforms in @entity2099 with umbilical artery absent end diastolic flow.

@entity1 @entity5935 @entity2099 @entity3152
OBJECTIVES: It has been previously shown that glucocorticoids alter umbilical artery flow velocity waveforms in singleton pregnancies complicated by umbilical artery absent end diastolic flow. Whether similar effects are evident in @entity2099 where one fetus has umbilical artery absent end diastolic flow is not known. METHODS: @entity1 with a twin or triplet pregnancy complicated by umbilical artery absent end diastolic flow in one fetus were admitted to hospital for intensive fetal surveillance including daily umbilical artery flow velocity waveform studies, as per hospital protocol. All @entity1 received prophylactic @entity5935 (11.4 mg x 2, 24 h apart) in anticipation of @entity3152 . RESULTS: Between October 1996 and February 2002, 24 @entity1 with a multiple pregnancy complicated by umbilical artery absent end diastolic flow were cared for. Of these, six had a pregnancy with feto-fetal transfusion and excluded from further analysis. Of the remaining 18 @entity1 , eight had monochorionic diamniotic twins, eight had dichorionic twins, and two had trichorionic, triamniotic triplets. The median (range) gestation at diagnosis of umbilical artery absent end diastolic flow was 210.5 days (173-241). In nine (50%) of the 18 pregnancies the administration of @entity5935 was associated with return of umbilical artery end diastolic flow for a median of 5 days. There was no association between this effect and chorionicity. The median (range) interval from diagnosis of umbilical artery absent end diastolic flow to delivery was 11 days (1-46). CONCLUSIONS: As previously reported in singleton pregnancies, the maternal administration of @entity5935 in @entity2099 with umbilical artery absent end diastolic flow is associated with a transient return of end diastolic flow.
