Preeclampsia is a major devastating medical condition that affects pregnant women after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It affects 2:10% of pregnancies worldwide according to World Health Organisation with higher incidence in developing countries.
Vascular endothelial dysfunction due to abnormal placentation is believed to be the main cause of multi-organ failure and uteroplacental insufficiency that occur in preeclampsia leading to major adverse effects in both mother and fetus.
Placental insufficiency causes a redistribution of fetal blood to essential organs ; brain, heart and adrenal glands by decreasing their vascular resistance on expense of peripheral organs. Changes occur in fetal renal circulation in preeclampsia is still area of debate with conflicting results in literature. Doppler ultrasound examination of vasculature of selected organs such as kidneys may have a role in detection of hemodynamic rearrangements that occur in cases of placental insufficiency and preeclampsia.
Also, Three dimensional power Doppler plays a role in comprehensive analysis of placental perfusion. It has a promising results regarding prediction of preeclampsia during early pregnancy and may have insights into prediction of adverse neonatal outcomes in late trimester.
