Correlation between first-trimester uterine artery Doppler indices and maternal serum free β-human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A

ObjectiveTo assess the correlation between first-trimester uterine artery Doppler measurements and maternal serum levels of free β-hCG and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A).DesignObservational study.SettingTeaching hospital.Patient(s)Four hundred thirty-three women at 10–14 weeks of gestation.Intervention(s)Doppler ultrasound of the uterine arteries. Fluorimetric immunoassays for free β-hCG and PAPP-A.Main Outcome Measure(s)Uterine artery mean resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), and number of early diastolic notches. Maternal serum levels of free β-hCG and PAPP-A.Result(s)There were 401 uncomplicated pregnancies. In this group, free β-hCG and PAPP-A did not significantly correlate with uterine artery RI or PI (r values between −0.089 and 0.029, all nonsignificant). Free β-hCG and PAPP-A levels did not significantly change with the number of notches. Uterine artery resistance and PAPP-A levels were independently correlated with birth weight.Conclusion(s)Preliminary evidence suggests that first-trimester uterine artery Doppler measurements do not correlate with maternal serum levels of free β-hCG and PAPP-A. This may allow their combined use in multivariate screening for pregnancy complications.