Correlation between Fetal-Placental Doppler Indices and Maternal Cardiac Function in Pregnant Women with Late-Onset Preeclampsia or Fetal Growth Restriction

Introduction To investigate the correlation between fetal-placental Doppler indices and maternal cardiac function in pregnant women with late-onset preeclampsia (PE) or fetal growth restriction (FGR). Methods A total of 90 pregnant women at 35–39⁺⁶ weeks of gestation were enrolled and divided into three groups: normal pregnancy (n=30), FGR (n=30), and late-onset PE (n=30). Doppler ultrasonography was used to measure uterine artery (UtA-PI), umbilical artery (UA-PI), and middle cerebral artery (MCA-PI) pulsatility indices, alongside maternal hemodynamic parameters, including cardiac output (CO), peripheral vascular resistance (PVR), left ventricular mass (LVM), and left atrial anteroposterior diameter (LAAPD). Spearman correlation analysis and Ramsey’s RESET test were applied to model associations between maternal hemodynamics and placental-fetal Doppler indices. Results The late-onset PE group exhibited significantly higher maternal BMI compared to the normal and FGR groups ( p <0.05), while neonates in the FGR group had the lowest birth weights. Hemodynamically, LAAPD, LVM, and CO were elevated in the late-onset PE group versus the FGR group ( p <0.05) but comparable to normal controls. Conversely, maternal cardiac metrics in the FGR group were reduced versus normal pregnancies ( p <0.05). PVR, UtA-PI, and UA-PI were lower in late-onset PE compared to FGR ( p <0.05), while FGR showed higher values versus controls ( p <0.05). MCA-PI showed no intergroup differences. Correlation analyses revealed that UtA-PI inversely correlated with maternal CO ( r =−0.39), LVM ( r =−0.28), and LAAPD ( r =−0.44), but positively with PVR ( r =0.37). Discussion Late-onset PE or FGR exhibit distinct maternal-placental hemodynamic profiles. These pathophysiological divergences underscore the need for condition-specific management strategies to optimize outcomes in complex pregnancy disorders.