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Single umbilical artery: does it matter which artery is missing?
A Z Abuhamad1, W Shaffer, G Mari
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk 23507, USA.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|September 1, 1995
Summary
The left umbilical artery is more commonly absent in fetuses with a single umbilical artery. Complex and cytogenetic anomalies exclusively occurred in fetuses with left umbilical artery absence.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Medicine
- Fetal Development
- Medical Genetics
Background:
- A single umbilical artery (SUA) is a rare condition.
- SUA is associated with an increased risk of fetal anomalies.
- The side of the missing umbilical artery may influence anomaly risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the side of the missing umbilical artery and the presence of congenital anomalies in fetuses with SUA.
- To determine if the side of arterial absence correlates with specific types of fetal anomalies.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 77 pregnancies with SUA over 18 months.
- Identification of the absent umbilical artery side (left or right).
- Targeted sonograms and perinatal follow-up for all cases.
Main Results:
- Absence of the left umbilical artery occurred in 73% of fetuses, versus 27% for the right.
- Congenital anomalies were present in 26% of fetuses with SUA.
- Complex and cytogenetic anomalies exclusively occurred in fetuses with left umbilical artery absence.
Conclusions:
- The left umbilical artery is more frequently absent in fetuses with SUA.
- Absence of the left umbilical artery is linked to a higher incidence of complex and cytogenetic anomalies.
- Isolated SUA does not appear to increase the incidence of small-for-gestational-age fetuses.