Alan E. Beer Medical Center for Reproductive Immunology

Our Recommendations

We recommend that our patients have a series of ultrasound examinations during their pregnancies. The condition for which they are being treated involves the immune system. Although our patients may have different immune problems, they are all similar in at least one respect: the problem leads to abnormal blood flow from the mother to the placenta. This may adversely affect the developing pregnancy.

What is the blood flow problem? Technically, it is called vasculitis; i.e., an inflammation of the blood vessels. How does this vasculitis affect blood flow? Picture the following. Water is flowing from a water spigot through a hose. Gradually, the hose begins to thicken. As it thickens, the channel through which the water flows becomes narrower. As it gets narrower and narrower, it becomes more difficult for blood to flow and less water comes out the end of the hose unless the pressure of the water from the spigot is increased. In this analogy, the water represents your blood flowing to your pregnancy, and the hose represents the blood vessels in your uterus going to your placenta. The thickening of the blood vessels results from inflammation.

The way that we determine if inflammation is present, and thus the physiologic efficacy of the treatment, is through the ultrasounds we recommend. If an abnormal result is obtained, medical treatment may be altered to allow blood to flow more easily. Because it is such a critical period, we recommend ultrasound examinations every two weeks during the first trimester. Thereafter, ultrasound examinations (“scans”) are performed monthly, unless there is a reason to perform them more frequently.

The information contained in this article is not intended to be a medical diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice in any way, as it is general information and cannot be relied on without consultation with your physician. It is not intended nor is it implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. As medical information can change rapidly, we strongly encourage you to discuss all health matters and concerns with your physician before embarking on new diagnostic or treatment strategies.