Alterations in Time Intervals of Ductus Venous in Growth-Restricted Fetuses

Background: Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) is a term used to describe an infant whose birth weight is below the 10th centile for the appropriate gestational age. Objective: To screen the time intervals of ductus venosus waveforms in growth-restricted fetuses to predict fetal hypoxia, placental insufficiency and adverse outcome at delivery time to improve the perinatal outcome. Methodology: This case control study involved fifty individuals with singleton pregnancies at 28-32 weeks’ gestational age complicated by intrauterine growth restriction, contrasted with a control group of 50 age-matched women, performed at Al-Zahraa Hospital, Al-Azhar University, over one year from January 2021 to December 2021. Results: The mean Systolic Ductus Venosus interval in intrauterine growth restriction group and control group was 275.27 ±26.69 and 271.13 ±31.17 respectively. The mean Diastolic Ductus Venosus interval was 221.87 ±25.00 in intrauterine growth restriction group and 135.26 ±40.65 in control group. Diastolic Ductus Venosus interval showed statistically significant increase in intrauterine growth restriction group contrasted with control group. Diastolic Ductus Venosus interval can significantly determine intrauterine growth restriction at cutoff 197.85 and Area Under the Curve was 0.975 with high sensitivity, high specificity, Positive Predictive Value and Negative Predictive Value were 94%, 100%, 100% and 94.3% consequently (p<0.001). Meanwhile, Systolic Ductus Venosus interval can insignificantly determine intrauterine growth restriction at cutoff 245.98 and Area Under the Curve was 0.544 with sensitivity, specificity, Positive Predictive Value and Negative Predictive Value was 84%, 32%, 55% & 66.7% consequently (p>0.05). Conclusion: The study suggested that the screening of ductus venosus waveforms in growth-restricted fetuses can predict fetal hypoxia, placental insufficiency, and adverse outcomes, potentially improving perinatal outcomes.