Randomized controlled study comparing effect of magnesium sulfate with placebo on fetal umbilical artery and middle cerebral artery blood flow in mild preeclampsia at ≥34 weeks gestational age
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, 03/23/2012  Clinical Article

Dasgupta S et al. – Magnesium sulfate produces a significant decrease in fetal umbilical artery and middle cerebral artery pulsatility index.

• Forty–eight women with gestational age greater than 34 weeks with mild preeclampsia or gestational hypertension were randomly assigned to receive either magnesium sulfate or placebo.
• Pre– and post–magnesium sulfate pulsatility index of umbilical and fetal middle cerebral artery were compared by Mann–Whitney U–test between the groups.
• Within–group comparison was conducted using Wilcoxon's signed rank test.

• There was a significant reduction in the post–magnesium sulfate umbilical artery pulsatility index in the intervention group (median 0.88 [0.82-1.03]) when compared to the placebo group (median 1.00 [0.89–1.10]).
• Post–magnesium sulfate fetal middle cerebral artery pulsatility index in the intervention group (median 1.78 [1.63–1.98]) did not show a significant change compared to the placebo group (median 1.65 [1.42–1.91]).
• Within–group comparison showed change in both variables after treatment in the intervention group.