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Umbilical vein blood flow at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation

Giuseppe Rizzo1, Alessandra Capponi, Maria Elena Pietrolucci

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università di Roma, Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy. giuseppe.rizzo@uniroma2.it

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine : the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians
|January 5, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Fetal umbilical vein (UV) diameter, time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMXV), and blood flow (UVBF) increase significantly between 11 and 13 weeks of gestation. These measurements demonstrate reliable intraobserver agreement for clinical use.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatology
  • Fetal Medicine
  • Diagnostic Ultrasound

Background:

  • Establishing normative data for fetal parameters is crucial for monitoring pregnancy.
  • Umbilical vein (UV) measurements are key indicators of fetal well-being.
  • Reliable reference intervals are needed for early gestational assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine reference intervals for fetal UV diameter, TAMXV, and UVBF from 11 to 13 weeks gestation.
  • To assess the intraobserver reliability of these ultrasound measurements.
  • To provide data for clinical use in early pregnancy assessment.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 162 fetuses from uncomplicated singleton pregnancies (11+0 to 13+6 weeks gestation).
  • Real-time and Doppler ultrasonography used to measure UV diameter and TAMXV.
  • UV blood flow (UVBF) calculated; intraobserver agreement assessed in 25 cases.

Main Results:

  • Significant increases observed in UV diameter (r=0.729), TAMXV (r=0.691), and UVBF (r=0.777) with gestational age.
  • UVBF increased from 2.26 ml/min at 11 weeks to 15.62 ml/min at 13+6 weeks.
  • High intraobserver agreement (ICCs: 0.96 for diameter, 0.92 for TAMXV, 0.88 for UVBF).

Conclusions:

  • Fetal UV diameter, TAMXV, and blood flow progressively increase during early gestation (11-13 weeks).
  • Calculated UV blood flow and its components exhibit reliable intraobserver agreement.
  • These findings support the clinical utility of these measurements in early pregnancy monitoring.
Abstract

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