Umbilical cord thickness in the first and early second trimesters and perinatal outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To study the association between thickness of the umbilical cord at 11+0 to 14+6 gestational weeks and perinatal outcome.


METHODS
We studied 216 pregnant women between 11+0 and 14+6 weeks' gestation with singletons, intact membranes, normal volumes of amniotic fluid and a regular menstrual period. Patients with umbilical cord measurements below the 5(th) centile were defined as thin umbilical cord group and those between the 5(th) and 95(th) or above 95(th) centile were defined as non-lean umbilical cord group. Abortion or fetal demise, preeclampsia, mode of delivery, gestational age at delivery, birth weight, and 5-min Apgar scores were noted.


RESULTS
A statistically significant difference existed between the mean gestational age, mode of delivery, birth weight and adverse perinatal outcome of the two groups. The relative risk of the adverse perinatal outcome in lean umbilical cords was 6.92 (2.71-17.67; 95% CI). The umbilical cord thickness correlated with birth weight (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Sonographic finding of a lean umbilical cord at 11+0 to 14+6 weeks' gestation should prompt the physician to strict monitoring of pregnancy.
Goynumer
Gokhan
G
Istanbul Goztepe Education and Research Hospital, Turkey. goynumergo@ttmail.com
Ozdemir
Arzu
A
Wetherilt
Lale
L
Durukan
Birol
B
Yayla
Murat
M
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional / Q000145:classification*; D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult