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Type II single umbilical artery (persistent vitelline artery) in an otherwise normal fetus
Author(s) -
Gamzu Ronni,
Zalel Yaron,
Jacobson Jeffrey M.,
Screiber Leticia,
Achiron Reuven
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
prenatal diagnosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.956
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1097-0223
pISSN - 0197-3851
DOI - 10.1002/pd.463
Subject(s) - single umbilical artery , umbilical artery , fetus , medicine , anatomy , abdominal aorta , superior mesenteric artery , artery , aorta , cardiology , blood flow , pregnancy , biology , genetics
A single umbilical artery resulting from absence of the umbilical arteries and persistence of the vitelline artery that arises directly from the abdominal aorta has been described only in malformed fetuses with sirenomelia or caudal regression. Such an aberrant artery was suggested to be the etiology of sirenomelia caused by a ‘steal’ mechanism of blood flow from the caudal end of the embryo. We present a case in which prenatal ultrasound showed a similar aberrant single artery arising from the abdominal aorta in an otherwise normal fetus with a normal course of pregnancy. This vessel, a continuation of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), corresponds to a persistent vitelline artery assuming the function of the umbilical arteries. The etiology of such a finding and its possible consequences are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.