Can umbilical and arcuate artery Doppler velocimetry predict fetal distress among prolonged pregnancies?

We studied umbilical and arcuate artery Doppler velocity waveforms in 30 uncompromised prolonged pregnancies (greater than 41 weeks of gestation). Normal systolic/diastolic ratios in these vessels had a negative predictive value similar to other antepartum tests. The positive predictive value, though, was not high enough to consider Doppler studies of the umbilical and arcuate arteries as the only test to identify the group of prolonged pregnancies that have uteroplacental insufficiency. There is a possibility that the combination of Doppler velocimetry with other antepartum tests may improve our ability to predict poor outcome. Further study is needed.