title: Should fetal growth be a matter of concern in isolated single umbilical artery?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine birth weight in pregnancies with isolated single umbilical artery (ISUA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Case control study with retrospective review of 131 singleton pregnancies with isolated single umbilical artery diagnosed before birth. Control group consisted of 730 singleton pregnancies recruited prospectively, that had histological confirmation of a 3 vessels cord. Pregnancies were classified as uncomplicated or high-risk according to the presence of diseases that increase the risk of placental insufficiency during pregnancy. Mean birth weight and frequency of low birth weight (< 2.500 g), very low birth weight (< 1.500 g) and fetal growth restriction below the 5th and 10th centiles were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean birth weight difference between ISUA (n=131, 2840±701g) and control (n=730, 2.983 ± 671g) pregnancies was 143g (95% CI= 17-269; p=0.04) and birth weight below the 5thcentile was significantly more common in ISUA group [28/131 (21.4%) versus 99/730 (13.6%), p=0.02]. When only uncomplicated pregnancies were considered in both groups, no birth weight differences were observed. Amongst high-risk subgroups, birth weight below the 5th centile remained significantly more common in ISUA compared to control pregnancies [10/35 (28.6%) versus 53/377 (14.1%), p=0.04].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Isolated single umbilical artery does not increase the risk of fetal growth restriction in uncomplicated singleton pregnancies.
authors.forename: Lorena Mesquita
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Caldas
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Mário Henrique
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Rossana Pulcineli Vieira
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Francisco
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zugaib
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006753:Hospital Records; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D058529:Single Umbilical Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal