The fetal biometry and doppler parameters on ultrasound among pregnant women complicated with moderate and severe anemia in third trimester

Abstract

Hypoxia-induced release of nitric oxide and opioids can account for much of the adenosine-independent cerebral vasodilatation in response to hypoxia in the fetus. Direct effects of hypoxia on cerebral arteries account for the remaining fraction, although the vascular endothelium contributes relatively little to hypoxic vasodilatation in the immature cerebral circulation. This was a hospital based cross sectional study and all cases of moderate to severely anaemic pregnant women in Obstetric and Gynaecology Department, with gestational age of 28 weeks and above were included in this study. In group 1, 67% had amniotic fluid index between 5-50thcentile, and there was no AFI <5th centile, while in group 2, AFI<5th centile was found in 21% which was statistically significant. The mean AFI for group 1 and 2 was 11.35+/-3.06cms and 9.19+/-2.34cms respectively (p=0.032).