Double notches: association of uterine artery notch forms with maternal outcome.

Objective: To assess uterine artery Doppler waveforms and notches performed in the third trimester as a predictor of adverse outcomes. Methods: Of 490 pre-eclampsia patients between 24 and 34 weeks gestation, 166 were diagnosed with mild pre-eclampsia and 324 were diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia. Patients with complete data were divided into four groups as patients with no notch (n:58), a unilateral notch (n:93), bilateral notches (n:252) and double notches (n:39). Results: Bilateral and double notches were predictive of shorter follow-up times, adverse laboratory outcomes (mean 24 h proteinuria, AST, LDH levels) and HELLP syndrome, need for magnesium sulphate treatment, higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion: Bilateral notches and especially double notches represent progressive deterioration in the uterine artery and are predictive of adverse maternal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]