Artigos Originais Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(4):153-158
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000400004
PURPOSE: To analyze the relationship between physical activity and body composition in menopausal women. METHODS: The study included 62 menopausal women aged 50 years or more (61.2±7.6). The practice of physical activity was assessed with an accelerometer and is reported as minutes per week of low physical activity and moderate plus vigorous physical activity, and total physical activity in counts. Lean mass and total fat mass were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and are reported as percentages. The relation between body composition variables and physical activity was evaluated by Spearman and Pearson correlation. Comparisons between groups were performed using the independent t test and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: The age group 59 years or older had higher mean values of total physical activity in counts (1,307.081 versus 2,843.840) and of minutes per week of moderate-vigorous physical activity (273 versus 156 minutes). Women who completed 150 minutes or more of moderate-vigorous physical activity had significantly lower total fat mass (43.8 versus 47.2 kg), higher lean mass (53.8 versus 49.6 kg) and lower BMI (27.7 versus 30.5 kg/m²) when compared to those with less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Only time spent in moderate activities showed a significant negative correlation with the percentage of total fat (r=-0.26, p<0.05), whereas total physical activity in counts correlated with the percentage of lean body mass (r=0,30), percentage of total fat (r=-0.32), trunk fat (r=-0.29), and BMI (r=-0.32); all correlations were statistically significant at p<0.05. CONCLUSION: menopausal women aged 50 years or more who spent more minutes in moderate and vigorous activity and higher total physical activity counts showed lower fat mass and higher lean mass.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(4):153-158
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000400004
PURPOSE: To analyze the relationship between physical activity and body composition in menopausal women. METHODS: The study included 62 menopausal women aged 50 years or more (61.2±7.6). The practice of physical activity was assessed with an accelerometer and is reported as minutes per week of low physical activity and moderate plus vigorous physical activity, and total physical activity in counts. Lean mass and total fat mass were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and are reported as percentages. The relation between body composition variables and physical activity was evaluated by Spearman and Pearson correlation. Comparisons between groups were performed using the independent t test and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: The age group 59 years or older had higher mean values of total physical activity in counts (1,307.081 versus 2,843.840) and of minutes per week of moderate-vigorous physical activity (273 versus 156 minutes). Women who completed 150 minutes or more of moderate-vigorous physical activity had significantly lower total fat mass (43.8 versus 47.2 kg), higher lean mass (53.8 versus 49.6 kg) and lower BMI (27.7 versus 30.5 kg/m²) when compared to those with less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Only time spent in moderate activities showed a significant negative correlation with the percentage of total fat (r=-0.26, p<0.05), whereas total physical activity in counts correlated with the percentage of lean body mass (r=0,30), percentage of total fat (r=-0.32), trunk fat (r=-0.29), and BMI (r=-0.32); all correlations were statistically significant at p<0.05. CONCLUSION: menopausal women aged 50 years or more who spent more minutes in moderate and vigorous activity and higher total physical activity counts showed lower fat mass and higher lean mass.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(2):78-83
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000200007
PURPOSE: To understand the reproductive and sexual life of women treated for breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 139 women with a diagnosis made at least 6 months ago were interviewed after being randomly selected in a rehabilitation service. The interviews were carried out between 2006 and 2010. The inclusion criteria were: to have used a rehabilitation service between 2006 and 2010, to be a Unified Health System user, to have been a patient at a regional hospital and to be resident in the area of DRS XIII-Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo. The interviewees were visited at home where a face to face questionnaire regarding sociodemographic features and questions about the disease and reproductive and sexual life was administered. For the last one, the Female Sexual Function Index instrument was used. Data were analyzed statistically by the χ² test, Fisher exact test, Student's t test, multivariate analysis by logistic regression, factorial analysis and the Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: Most patients had between 2 to 3 children and 80% used some contraceptive. About half of them had had sexual intercourse in the last month, 45.3% had interrupted sexual intercourse during treatment and 25.9% did not. There were reports of decreasing sexual activity, although half of the interviewees had re-started sexual life during the first six months after treatment. About half presented sexual dissatisfaction. An active sexual life is associated with being younger than 40 years of age and to have a partner. No association was found between active sexual life and diagnosis and types of treatment. CONCLUSION: Sexual activity of women treated for breast cancer is not associated with the treatments, but with age and with the opportunity of having sex.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(2):78-83
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000200007
PURPOSE: To understand the reproductive and sexual life of women treated for breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 139 women with a diagnosis made at least 6 months ago were interviewed after being randomly selected in a rehabilitation service. The interviews were carried out between 2006 and 2010. The inclusion criteria were: to have used a rehabilitation service between 2006 and 2010, to be a Unified Health System user, to have been a patient at a regional hospital and to be resident in the area of DRS XIII-Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo. The interviewees were visited at home where a face to face questionnaire regarding sociodemographic features and questions about the disease and reproductive and sexual life was administered. For the last one, the Female Sexual Function Index instrument was used. Data were analyzed statistically by the χ² test, Fisher exact test, Student's t test, multivariate analysis by logistic regression, factorial analysis and the Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: Most patients had between 2 to 3 children and 80% used some contraceptive. About half of them had had sexual intercourse in the last month, 45.3% had interrupted sexual intercourse during treatment and 25.9% did not. There were reports of decreasing sexual activity, although half of the interviewees had re-started sexual life during the first six months after treatment. About half presented sexual dissatisfaction. An active sexual life is associated with being younger than 40 years of age and to have a partner. No association was found between active sexual life and diagnosis and types of treatment. CONCLUSION: Sexual activity of women treated for breast cancer is not associated with the treatments, but with age and with the opportunity of having sex.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(2):71-77
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000200006
PURPOSE: To evaluate the anthropometric characteristics of morbidity and mortality of premature newborns (NB) of hypertensive mothers according to the presence or absence of flow (DZ) or reverse (DR) diastolic flow in the dopplervelocimetry of the umbilical artery. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on preterm newborns of pregnant women with hypertension between 25 and 33 weeks of gestational age, submitted to umbilical artery Doppler study during the five days before delivery. Delivery occurred at Hospital Regional da Asa Sul, Brasília - Federal District, between November 1st, 2009 and October 31st, 2010. The infants were stratified into two groups according to the results of Doppler velocimetry: Gdz/dr=absent end-diastolic velocity waveform or reversed end-diastolic velocity waveform, and Gn=normal Doppler velocimetry. Anthropometric measurements at birth, neonatal morbidity, and mortality were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: We studied 92 infants, as follows: Gdz/dr=52 infants and Gn=40 infants. In Gdz/dr, the incidence of infants small for gestational age was significantly greater, with a relative risk of 2.5 (95%CI 1.7 - 3.7). In Gdz/dr, infants remained on mechanical ventilation for a longer time: median 2 (0‒28) and Gn median 0.5 (0‒25) p=0.03. The need for oxygen at 28 days was higher in G dz/dr comparing to Gn (33 versus 10%; p=0.01). Neonatal mortality was higher in Gdz/dr compared to Gn (36 versus 10%; p=0.03; relative risk of 1.6; 95%CI 1.2‒2.2). Logistic regression showed that, with each 100 grams lower birth weight, the chance of death increased 6.7 times in G dz/dr (95%CI 2.0 - 11.3; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: In preterm infants of mothers with hypertensive changes in Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical artery, intrauterine growth restriction and neonatal prognosis are often worse, with a high risk of death related to birth weight.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(2):71-77
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000200006
PURPOSE: To evaluate the anthropometric characteristics of morbidity and mortality of premature newborns (NB) of hypertensive mothers according to the presence or absence of flow (DZ) or reverse (DR) diastolic flow in the dopplervelocimetry of the umbilical artery. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on preterm newborns of pregnant women with hypertension between 25 and 33 weeks of gestational age, submitted to umbilical artery Doppler study during the five days before delivery. Delivery occurred at Hospital Regional da Asa Sul, Brasília - Federal District, between November 1st, 2009 and October 31st, 2010. The infants were stratified into two groups according to the results of Doppler velocimetry: Gdz/dr=absent end-diastolic velocity waveform or reversed end-diastolic velocity waveform, and Gn=normal Doppler velocimetry. Anthropometric measurements at birth, neonatal morbidity, and mortality were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: We studied 92 infants, as follows: Gdz/dr=52 infants and Gn=40 infants. In Gdz/dr, the incidence of infants small for gestational age was significantly greater, with a relative risk of 2.5 (95%CI 1.7 - 3.7). In Gdz/dr, infants remained on mechanical ventilation for a longer time: median 2 (0‒28) and Gn median 0.5 (0‒25) p=0.03. The need for oxygen at 28 days was higher in G dz/dr comparing to Gn (33 versus 10%; p=0.01). Neonatal mortality was higher in Gdz/dr compared to Gn (36 versus 10%; p=0.03; relative risk of 1.6; 95%CI 1.2‒2.2). Logistic regression showed that, with each 100 grams lower birth weight, the chance of death increased 6.7 times in G dz/dr (95%CI 2.0 - 11.3; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: In preterm infants of mothers with hypertensive changes in Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical artery, intrauterine growth restriction and neonatal prognosis are often worse, with a high risk of death related to birth weight.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(2):66-70
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000200005
PURPOSE: To ascertain the seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV), toxoplasmosis and rubella infections in pregnant women in northwestern Paraná. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study based on the results of serological screening during prenatal care of 1,534 patients during the first half of 2010. We included only results from the first prenatal exam and with a simultaneous search for IgG and IgM antibodies to rubella and toxoplasmosis. Serology was performed by microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA). Data were analyzed statistically by the χ² test, with the level of significance set at 5%. RESULTS: HIV positivity was 0.3%, positivity of HBV serology (HbsAg) was 0.5%, reactivity to IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii was 1.1%, and reactivity to IgG antibodies was 59.0%. For rubella, no patient was positive for IgM, and IgG reactivity was 99.6%. Data analysis showed no statistical association between seroprevalence and patient age, except for the frequency of anti-T. gondii IgG, which was higher in the 30 to 44 year age group. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of these infectious diseases in pregnant women from northwestern Paraná is comparable to that observed in other regions of Brazil.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(2):66-70
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000200005
PURPOSE: To ascertain the seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV), toxoplasmosis and rubella infections in pregnant women in northwestern Paraná. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study based on the results of serological screening during prenatal care of 1,534 patients during the first half of 2010. We included only results from the first prenatal exam and with a simultaneous search for IgG and IgM antibodies to rubella and toxoplasmosis. Serology was performed by microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA). Data were analyzed statistically by the χ² test, with the level of significance set at 5%. RESULTS: HIV positivity was 0.3%, positivity of HBV serology (HbsAg) was 0.5%, reactivity to IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii was 1.1%, and reactivity to IgG antibodies was 59.0%. For rubella, no patient was positive for IgM, and IgG reactivity was 99.6%. Data analysis showed no statistical association between seroprevalence and patient age, except for the frequency of anti-T. gondii IgG, which was higher in the 30 to 44 year age group. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of these infectious diseases in pregnant women from northwestern Paraná is comparable to that observed in other regions of Brazil.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(2):55-59
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000200003
PURPOSE: To determine the agreement between maternal perception of fetal movements and the movements recorded simultaneously by ultrasound in low-risk pregnancies. METHODS: Twenty pregnant women were evaluated with the following inclusion criteria: single pregnancy, alive fetus, maternal age between 18 and 35 years; between 36 and 40 weeks gestation; normal fetal morphology at ultrasound, and absence of maternal comorbidities. The pregnant women were evaluated for 10 minutes, during which cardiotocography was used to record fetal movements triggered with the event marker, with the paper speed set at 3 cm/min. At the same time, fetal movements were observed by ultrasonography. RESULTS: The kappa index for interobserver agreement analysis was 0.62, showing good agreement (95%CI 0.45 - 0.79). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.82 (95%CI 0.61 - 0.92). Analysis by the Bland & Altman graph indicated good agreement. A linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between maternal perception (x) and ultrasound (y) observation (r²=0.71, p<0.001; equation: y=5.31+0.66x). CONCLUSIONS: The agreement between ultrasound and maternal perception of fetal movement is good, allowing the use of fetal movement counting in the assessment of fetal wellbeing.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(2):55-59
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000200003
PURPOSE: To determine the agreement between maternal perception of fetal movements and the movements recorded simultaneously by ultrasound in low-risk pregnancies. METHODS: Twenty pregnant women were evaluated with the following inclusion criteria: single pregnancy, alive fetus, maternal age between 18 and 35 years; between 36 and 40 weeks gestation; normal fetal morphology at ultrasound, and absence of maternal comorbidities. The pregnant women were evaluated for 10 minutes, during which cardiotocography was used to record fetal movements triggered with the event marker, with the paper speed set at 3 cm/min. At the same time, fetal movements were observed by ultrasonography. RESULTS: The kappa index for interobserver agreement analysis was 0.62, showing good agreement (95%CI 0.45 - 0.79). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.82 (95%CI 0.61 - 0.92). Analysis by the Bland & Altman graph indicated good agreement. A linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between maternal perception (x) and ultrasound (y) observation (r²=0.71, p<0.001; equation: y=5.31+0.66x). CONCLUSIONS: The agreement between ultrasound and maternal perception of fetal movement is good, allowing the use of fetal movement counting in the assessment of fetal wellbeing.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(2):49-54
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000200002
PURPOSE: To evaluate the performance of a Brazilian reference curve of fundal height (FH) regarding its capacity of screening the deviations of volume of amniotic fluid using a Brazilian reference curve of amniotic fluid index (AFI) as gold standard. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study evaluating 753 pregnant women receiving prenatal care at the public health services of João Pessoa (PB), from March to October 2006, who had a routine ultrasound exam scheduled for after 26 weeks of gestational age. Cases with diagnoses of twin pregnancy, intrauterine fetal death and major fetal malformations were excluded. Besides socio-demographic information, data regarding fundal height measured in a standard way, estimated fetal weight, AFI and gestational age at the time of the ultrasound exam were also collected. The capacity of the FH curve to predict deviations of the amniotic fluid volume was assessed using the Brazilian curve of AFI according to gestational age as the gold standard. For this purpose, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were estimated for different cut-off points. RESULTS: The measurement of FH identified 10.5% of women as having low FH possibly associated with oligohydramnios and 25.2% as having high FH possibly associated with polyhydramnios. Using a Brazilian reference curve of AFI, the FH was able to poorly predict the occurrence of oligohydramnios (sensitivity ranging from 37 to 28%) and to reasonably predict the occurrence of polyhydramnios (sensitivity ranging from 88 to 69%). CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of fundal height showed a poor performance for predicting oligohydramnios and a reasonable performance for predicting polyhydramnios. Its use for this purpose is then only supported in settings where the ultrasound exam is not easily or routinely available in order to help define priorities for cases that should have this exam performed.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(2):49-54
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000200002
PURPOSE: To evaluate the performance of a Brazilian reference curve of fundal height (FH) regarding its capacity of screening the deviations of volume of amniotic fluid using a Brazilian reference curve of amniotic fluid index (AFI) as gold standard. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study evaluating 753 pregnant women receiving prenatal care at the public health services of João Pessoa (PB), from March to October 2006, who had a routine ultrasound exam scheduled for after 26 weeks of gestational age. Cases with diagnoses of twin pregnancy, intrauterine fetal death and major fetal malformations were excluded. Besides socio-demographic information, data regarding fundal height measured in a standard way, estimated fetal weight, AFI and gestational age at the time of the ultrasound exam were also collected. The capacity of the FH curve to predict deviations of the amniotic fluid volume was assessed using the Brazilian curve of AFI according to gestational age as the gold standard. For this purpose, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were estimated for different cut-off points. RESULTS: The measurement of FH identified 10.5% of women as having low FH possibly associated with oligohydramnios and 25.2% as having high FH possibly associated with polyhydramnios. Using a Brazilian reference curve of AFI, the FH was able to poorly predict the occurrence of oligohydramnios (sensitivity ranging from 37 to 28%) and to reasonably predict the occurrence of polyhydramnios (sensitivity ranging from 88 to 69%). CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of fundal height showed a poor performance for predicting oligohydramnios and a reasonable performance for predicting polyhydramnios. Its use for this purpose is then only supported in settings where the ultrasound exam is not easily or routinely available in order to help define priorities for cases that should have this exam performed.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(1):10-15
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000100003
PURPOSES: To investigate the effect of an individualized and supervised exercise program for the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) in the postpartum period of multiparous women, and to verify the correlation between two methods used to assess PFM strength. METHODS: An open clinical trial was performed with puerperal, multiparous women aged 18 to 35 years. The sample consisted of 23 puerperal women divided into two groups: Intervention Group (IG, n=11) and Control Group (CG, n=12). The puerperal women in IG participated in an eight-week PFM exercise program, twice a week. The puerperal women in CG did not receive any recommendations regarding exercise. PFM strength was assessed using digital vaginal palpation and a perineometer. The statistical analysis was performed using the following tests: Fisher's exact, c², Student's t, Kolmogorov-Smirnov for two samples, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Significance was defined as p<0.05. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 24±4.5 years in IG and 25.3±4 years in CG (p=0.4). After the exercise program, a significant difference was found between the groups in both modalities of muscle strength assessment (p<0.001). The two muscle strength assessment methods showed a significant correlation in both assessments (1st assessment: r=0.889, p<0.001; 2nd assessment: r=0.925, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The exercise program promoted a significant improvement in PFM strength. Good correlation was observed between digital vaginal palpation and a perineometer, which indicates that vaginal palpation can be used in clinical practice, since it is an inexpensive method that demonstrated significant correlation with an objective method, i.e. the use of a perioneometer.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(1):10-15
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000100003
PURPOSES: To investigate the effect of an individualized and supervised exercise program for the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) in the postpartum period of multiparous women, and to verify the correlation between two methods used to assess PFM strength. METHODS: An open clinical trial was performed with puerperal, multiparous women aged 18 to 35 years. The sample consisted of 23 puerperal women divided into two groups: Intervention Group (IG, n=11) and Control Group (CG, n=12). The puerperal women in IG participated in an eight-week PFM exercise program, twice a week. The puerperal women in CG did not receive any recommendations regarding exercise. PFM strength was assessed using digital vaginal palpation and a perineometer. The statistical analysis was performed using the following tests: Fisher's exact, c², Student's t, Kolmogorov-Smirnov for two samples, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Significance was defined as p<0.05. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 24±4.5 years in IG and 25.3±4 years in CG (p=0.4). After the exercise program, a significant difference was found between the groups in both modalities of muscle strength assessment (p<0.001). The two muscle strength assessment methods showed a significant correlation in both assessments (1st assessment: r=0.889, p<0.001; 2nd assessment: r=0.925, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The exercise program promoted a significant improvement in PFM strength. Good correlation was observed between digital vaginal palpation and a perineometer, which indicates that vaginal palpation can be used in clinical practice, since it is an inexpensive method that demonstrated significant correlation with an objective method, i.e. the use of a perioneometer.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(1):33-38
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000100007
PURPOSE: To create longitudinal reference intervals for pulsatility index (PI) of the umbilical (UA), middle cerebral (MCA), uterine (UtA) arteries and ductus venosus (DV) in a Brazilian cohort. METHODS: A longitudinal observational study performed from February 2010 to May 2012. Low risk pregnancies were scanned fortnightly from 18 to 40 weeks for the measurements of PI of the UA, MCA, DV and UtA. Linear mixed models were used for the elaboration of longitudinal reference intervals (5th, 50th and 95th percentiles) of these measurements. PI obtained for the placental and abdominal portions of the umbilical artery were compared by the t-test for independent samples. Two-sided p values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 164 patients underwent 1,242 scans. There was significant decrease in PI values of all vessels studied with gestational age (GA). From the 18th to the 40th week of pregnancy, the median PI values of UA (abdominal and placental ends of the cord), MCA, DV and the mean PI of the UtA ranged from 1.19 to 0.74, 1.33 to 0.78, 1.56 to 1.39, 0.58 to 0.41, and 0.98 to 0.66, respectively. The following equations were obtained for the prediction of the medians: PI-UA=1.5602786 - (0.020623 x GA); Logarithm of the PI-MCA=0.8149111 - (0.004168 x GA) - [0.02543 x (GA - 28.7756)²]; Logarithm of the PI-DV=-0.26691- (0.015414 x GA); PI-UtA = 1.2362403 - (0.014392 x GA). There was a significant difference between the PI-UA obtained at the abdominal and placental ends of the umbilical cord (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal reference intervals for the main gestational Doppler parameters were obtained in a Brazilian cohort. These intervals could be more adequate for the follow-up of maternal-fetal hemodynamic modifications in normal and abnormal pregnancies, a fact that still requires further validation.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(1):33-38
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000100007
PURPOSE: To create longitudinal reference intervals for pulsatility index (PI) of the umbilical (UA), middle cerebral (MCA), uterine (UtA) arteries and ductus venosus (DV) in a Brazilian cohort. METHODS: A longitudinal observational study performed from February 2010 to May 2012. Low risk pregnancies were scanned fortnightly from 18 to 40 weeks for the measurements of PI of the UA, MCA, DV and UtA. Linear mixed models were used for the elaboration of longitudinal reference intervals (5th, 50th and 95th percentiles) of these measurements. PI obtained for the placental and abdominal portions of the umbilical artery were compared by the t-test for independent samples. Two-sided p values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 164 patients underwent 1,242 scans. There was significant decrease in PI values of all vessels studied with gestational age (GA). From the 18th to the 40th week of pregnancy, the median PI values of UA (abdominal and placental ends of the cord), MCA, DV and the mean PI of the UtA ranged from 1.19 to 0.74, 1.33 to 0.78, 1.56 to 1.39, 0.58 to 0.41, and 0.98 to 0.66, respectively. The following equations were obtained for the prediction of the medians: PI-UA=1.5602786 - (0.020623 x GA); Logarithm of the PI-MCA=0.8149111 - (0.004168 x GA) - [0.02543 x (GA - 28.7756)²]; Logarithm of the PI-DV=-0.26691- (0.015414 x GA); PI-UtA = 1.2362403 - (0.014392 x GA). There was a significant difference between the PI-UA obtained at the abdominal and placental ends of the umbilical cord (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal reference intervals for the main gestational Doppler parameters were obtained in a Brazilian cohort. These intervals could be more adequate for the follow-up of maternal-fetal hemodynamic modifications in normal and abnormal pregnancies, a fact that still requires further validation.