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Doppler indices of umbilical artery are used as indicator of fetal well being.

To compare Doppler parameters of umbilical artery including pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) in patients with preeclampsia with those of normal pregnancies and to evaluate the diagnostic characteristics of these parameters in preeclampsia.

In a case control study, umbilical artery pulsatility and resistance indices were calculated at a free loop of umbilical cord in 25 preeclamptic patients and 75 uneventful pregnancies. Measurements were compared and diagnostic characteristics of the indices were determined.

Mean of pulsatility and resistance index were significantly higher in preeclampsia patients than the control group. Besides, patients with severe preeclampsia showed significantly higher values of PI and RI in comparison to those with mild preeclampsia. For PI, the cut-off of ≥0.98 yielded the highest sensitivity and specificity. Also, RI of 0.64 acquired a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 44%.

Umbilical artery pulsatility index and resistance index increase in preeclampsia and these changes tend to be greater in severe preeclampsia. Umbilical artery PI and RI seem to be more appropriate in excluding preeclampsia rather than confirming it, and we propose the cut-off values of 0.98 for PI and/or 0.64 for RI, to rule-out the disease.

Group B streptococcus is regarded as a potential factor for adverseoutcomes of pregnancy such as preterm birth.

To study the association of maternal vaginal colonization with group Bstreptococcus (GBS) and preterm labor.

From April 2005 to May 2006, vaginal culture for GBS wereconducted in 101 laboring women with a gestational age of 24-37 weeks and 105women admitted for term delivery at maternity center of Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman,Iran. Student`s t test and Chi square test were used to compare continuous andcategorical data between the groups. Using multivariate logistic regression theassociation between GBS colonization and preterm labor was analyzed. P-values<0.05were considered as significant.

Colonization was detected in 9.2% of all mothers. Although GBS colonizationwas found more frequently in preterm than term patients (12 v/s 7 cases), the differencewas not statistically significant. However, GBS positivity was roughly associated withpreterm labor. Age was also a risk factor for GBS colonization. No case of perinatalsepsis occurred during the study period.

Maternal colonization for GBS is relatively low in our center. Increasingage enhances the risk of colonization. Vaginal colonization of GBS is relativelyassociated with preterm labor.