title: [Perinatal outcome after prenatal diagnosis of intra-abdominal umbilical vein varix].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased number of cardiovascular disorders diagnosed prenatally is not a consequence of a spontaneous growing, but of the advance in echographic techniques, specifically, high-resolution echography, color Doppler, a higher knowledge and systematization in exploring fetal anatomy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the sonographic findings and perinatal outcomes in cases with prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of intraabdominal umbilical vein varix (UVV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of cases with prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of UVV. The diagnosis is performed at the level of the abdominal circumference when the diameter of the vessel is above the established parameters for a certain gestational age. Variables concerning maternal-fetal features, ultrasound findings and perinatal outcomes of affected cases are described.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the period August 2008 to August 2012 14 cases of intra-abdominal UVV were diagnosed in our center with a mean gestational age at diagnosis of 29 weeks. Of the 14 cases, 35% had associated anomalies, mostly cardiovascular anomalies. No chromosomal defects were detected. Perinatal outcomes in newborns were favorable, with mean gestational age at delivery of 38 weeks. Only one case of monochorionic-monoamniotic twin pregnancy required preterm elective termination secondary to a twin to twin transfusion syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prenatal diagnosis of intra-abdominal UVV should be followed by further studies given its possible association with other anomalies, chromosomal defects and cases of stillbirth. However, isolated cases of UVV, representing a majority, often evolve favorably with few complications.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Medicina Fetal, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Navarro-González
authors.forename: Coral
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bravo-Arribas
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez-Fernández-Pacheco
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gámez-Alderete
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De León-Luis
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014471:Umbilical Veins; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult