To investigate the influence of umbilical artery blood flow abnormalities in pregnant women with early onset severe pre-eclampsia on pregnancy complications and outcomes of premature infant.

A total of 84 pregnant women with early onset severe pre-eclampsia treated in Nanyang First People’s Hospital from March 2019 to October 2022 were selected as the observation group, and 84 healthy pregnant women who experienced pregnancy examination in the same hospital during the same period were selected as the control group. The umbilical artery blood flow in all selected patients were detected, while pregnancy complications and the premature infant outcomes were collected. The abnormal umbilical artery blood flow, pregnancy complications and outcome of premature infants in the two groups were statistically analyzed. The pregnancy complications and outcomes of premature infants were compared between pregnant women with abnormal umbilical artery flow and pregnant women with normal umbilical artery flow in the observation group.

Rate of abnormal hemodynamics of patients with eak systolic flow velocity/end-diastolic flow velocity≥ 3, pulsation index ≥1.50, resistance index ≥ 0.80 in the observation group were 54.76% (46/84), 60.71% (51/84), 54.76% (46/84), and 60.71% (51/84), respectively, higher than the 7.14% (6/84), 9.52% (8/84), 7.14% (6/84), 9.52% (8/84) in the control group (P<0.05). The rate of oligohydramnios, intrauterine growth restriction and placental abruption in the observation group were 32.14% (27/84), 21.43% (18/84) and 7.14% (6/84) respectively, higher than the 7.14% (6/84), 5.95% (5/84) and 0.00% (0/84) in the control group (P<0.05). The rate of low-birth weight and neonatal asphyxia in the observation group were 19.05% (16/84) and 21.43% (18/84), respectively, which were higher than the 2.38% (2/84) and 3.57% (3/84) in the control group (P<0.05). Apgar score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The rate of oligohydramnios, intrauterine growth restriction and placental abruption in patients with abnormal umbilical artery blood flow in the observation group were 43.14% (22/51), 29.41% (15/51) and 9.80% (5/51), respectively, higher than 9.80% (5/33), 5.88% (3/33) and 1.96% (1/33) in patients with normal umbilical artery blood flow (P<0.05). The rate of low-birth weight and neonatal asphyxia of the patients with abnormal umbilical artery blood flow in the observation group were 29.41% (15/51) and 31.37% (16/51), respectively, which were higher than the 1.96% (1/33) and 3.92% (2/33) of the patients with normal umbilical artery blood flow (P<0.05). Apgar score of the patients with abnormal umbilical artery blood flow was lower, compared with patients with normal umbilical artery blood flow (P<0.05).

The abnormal rate of umbilical artery blood flow in pregnant women with early onset severe pre-eclampsia is high, which will increase the risk of pregnancy complications and adverse outcomes of premature infant .

Pre-eclampsia; Early onset; Severe; Umbilical artery blood flow; Pregnancy complication; Premature infant outcome