Estimation of diagnostic value of the middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity in prediction of fetal anemia in pregnancies complicated by alloimmunisation

Abstract

Abstract The use of the middle cerbral artery peak systolic velocity (PSV) for the noninvasive diagnosis of fetal anemia in pregnancies complicated by alloimmunisation has the potential to reduce the number of invesive procedures. Objectives: The study was undertaken to determine the detection of fetal anemia by fetal middle cerebral artery peak systolic velociy (MCA PSV). Material and methods: 31 fetuses with red cell alloimmunisation were evaluated with Doppler ultrasongraphy. On the basis of ROC (AUC) analysis the cutoff point of MoM=1.215 with the highest sensitivity and specivicity was established. We examined the relation between MoM=1.215 and neonatal hemoglobin level and the maternal antibody titre in the indirect antiglobulin test. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative value and statistical significance were calculated. Conclusions: Data reported to date suggest that a threshold of 1.215 multiples of the median can be used to better diagnostic of fetal anemia.