Foetal peak systolic velocity in the middle cerebral artery: an Asian reference range

Tan KBL, Fook-Chong SMC, Lee SL, Tan LK
Correspondence: Dr Kenny BL Tan, kennytan@nus.edu.sg

ABSTRACT
Introduction The aim of this study was to establish reference values of peak systolic blood flow velocity measurement in the foetal middle cerebral artery (MCA-PSV) in the local Asian obstetric population and to compare our reference ranges with those of previously-published studies.
Methods 329 normal pregnant women attending the outpatient antenatal clinics of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Singapore General Hospital underwent Doppler ultrasonography at least once between 16 and 40 weeks’ gestation. The blood flow velocity recordings from the foetal middle cerebral artery were obtained. New reference ranges were constructed by regressing each parameter on gestational age.
Results New reference ranges for foetal middle cerebral artery with gestation were constructed for an Asian population. Our reference curves were compared with that of a previously-constructed one.
Conclusion MCA-PSV increases with advancing gestational age. There appear to be differences between Asian and non-Asian reference ranges for MCA-PSV.

Keywords: anaemia, foetal anaemia, foetal middle cerebral artery, peak systolic blood flow velocity, prenatal ultrasonography
Singapore Med J 2009; 50(6): 584-586