Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

Doppler measurements in the Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) is a part of the assessment for assessing fetal well-being in complicated pregnancy, including Intra Uterine Growth Retardation and Fetal Anemia.

The use of this Doppler measurement in uncomplicated term pregnancies is not a common practice due to lack of information. However, several studies use the MCA Pulsatility Index (PI) as part of the Cerebro-Placental-Ratio (CPR) measurment at term.

The purpose of this trial is to assess MCA Doppler variability in term, uncomplicated pregnancy.


Clinical Trial Description

Measuring the resistance in the fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) is an important factor in assessing fetal well-being. On its own, the Pulsatility Index (PI) in the MCA may indicate a decrease in fetal oxygenation. Furthermore, the PI measured in the Fetal MCA is an index parameter in the calculation of the Cerebro-Placental Ratio (CPR) used to evaluate whether there is an existing disturbance in the Placental-Umbilical and Feto-cerebral circulations. The CPR is a measurement that enables practitioners to predict the fetuses reaction to intrauterine hypoxemia. The CPR measurement is commonly used to evaluate small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses and to distinguish between constitutionally small fetuses and ones that suffer from placental insufficiency. For those who suffer from placental insufficiency, the CPR measurement is an aid in deciding the optimal time and mode of delivery.

Recently, researchers pondered if the CPR measurement may aid in predicting disturbance in fetal oxygenation during delivery. A number of studies have showed that appropriate for gestational age fetuses with abnormal CPR measurements may be susceptible to delivery complications in the same manner as fetuses who suffer from placental insufficiency. The question that is yet to be answered is whether the MCA measurement reliable in term pregnancies. This question arises due to the impression that the MCA measurement at term is highly variable, even when taken under optimal conditions.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the intra-observer variability in the MCA measurement under optimal conditions, in Uncomplicated Term Pregnancies. ;


Study Design

Observational Model: Cohort, Time Perspective: Prospective


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT02968017
Study type Observational
Source Sheba Medical Center
Contact Boaz Weisz, MD
Phone + 972 3 5302169
Email Boaz.Weisz@sheba.health.gov.il
Status Not yet recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date November 2016
Completion date March 2017

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Not yet recruiting NCT05511727 - Use of Single Versus Double Foley's Catheter in Pre-induction Cervical Ripening N/A