Unilateral and Bilateral Increase in Resistance to Blood Flow in Arcuate Arteries During Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Consecutive gestational hypertensive or preeclamptic patients with an increased resistance to blood flow in the uterine arcuate arteries as demonstrated by Doppler-ultrasound were divided into two groups, one with unilaterally and one with bilaterally elevated values. The patients in the group with a unilateral increase in resistance were delivered at 36±1.8 weeks, with birthweights of 2276±575 g, whereas the patients in the group with bilaterally increased values delivered at 33±3.2 weeks, with birthweights of 1501±493 g (p < 0.05). Patients with a bilateral increase in resistance to blood flow developed more severe hypertension than patients with unilaterally elevated values. The development of an elevated resistance to flow in uterine arteries and their branches may be related to insufficient uterine arterial adaptation and growth.