Long-term physical and neurologic development in newborn infants with isolated single umbilical artery

This study compared birth parameters and the longitudinal course in physical and neurologic development between children with 2 and 3 vessel umbilical cords.

Our study of the Collaborative Perinatal Project included singletons of at least 24 weeks' gestation with single umbilical artery at birth and no identifiable congenital anomalies. Demographics that were collected included maternal age, race, smoking status, and socioeconomic index. Delivery data included gestational age, birthweight, Apgar scores, placental weight, and umbilical cord insertion and length. Growth and neurodevelopmental parameters were collected at various intervals from birth to 7 years.

There were 263 infants with isolated single umbilical artery and 41,415 infants with 3 vessel cords. A random effect model that controlled for potential confounders did not show clinically significant differences in the physical and neurodevelopment measures between these groups.

Our study shows no evidence of differential longitudinal physical growth or neurologic outcomes between infants with 2 or 3 vessel cords.