The effect of loading dose of magnesium sulfate on uterine, umbilical, and fetal middle cerebral arteries Doppler in women with severe preeclampsia: A case control study

SYNOPSIS

IV MgSO₄ administration in women with severe preeclampsia resulted in a decrease in umbilical artery, uterine artery, and fetal middle cerebral artery Doppler indices.

Objective: To evaluate Doppler parameters of the umbilical artery (UmA), uterine artery (UA), and fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) before and after MgSO₄ administration in women with severe preeclampsia. Methods: A case control study included 100 pregnant women with severe preeclampsia. Umbilical artery, uterine artery, and fetal middle cerebral artery Doppler were measured before and 20 minutes after intravenous administration of 6 g of magnesium sulfate. Results: There was a significant difference between maternal systolic blood pressure (173.20 ± 22.72 vs. 156.60 ± 19.18), diastolic blood pressure (109.60 ± 9.14 vs. 101.90 ± 10.05), and heart rate (80.52 ± 11.52 vs. 88.48 ± 12.08) before and after administration of MgSO₄ in the studied patients (p value < 0.001). There was a significant difference between umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery, and uterine artery Doppler parameters before and after administration of MgSO₄ in the studied patients (p value < 0.001). There was no significant difference between umbilical artery/middle cerebral artery with regard to RI and PI. However, there was significant difference with regard to the S/D ratio (p value < 0.001). The decrease in the values of Doppler parameters before and after administration of MgSO₄ was more in the middle cerebral artery than in the umbilical artery. Conclusion: Intravenous administration of magnesium sulfate in pregnant women with severe preeclampsia resulted in a decrease in umbilical artery, uterine artery, and fetal middle cerebral artery Doppler indices with reduced resistance to blood flow in these vessels.

KEYWORDS:

• Doppler ultrasound
• hypertension
• magnesium sulfate
• middle cerebral artery
• preeclampsia
• umbilical artery
• uterine artery

Declaration of interest

No conflict of interest.