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First‐trimester sonographic umbilical cord diameter and the growth of the human embryo
Author(s) -
Ghezzi F.,
Raio L.,
Di Naro E.,
Franchi M.,
Brühwiler H.,
D'Addario V.,
Schneider H.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.0960-7692.2001.00507.x
Subject(s) - umbilical cord , medicine , gestation , obstetrics , crown rump length , gestational age , fetus , birth weight , cord , pregnancy , gynecology , anatomy , surgery , first trimester , biology , genetics
Objectives Experimental and clinical evidence have shown that the morphometry of the umbilical cord in the second half of gestation might be useful in predicting adverse perinatal outcome. The purposes of this study were to generate a nomogram for the umbilical cord diameter in the first trimester and, in an observational study, to investigate whether the sonographic measurement of the umbilical cord diameter early in gestation has the same clinical value as that late in gestation. Methods The sonographic umbilical cord diameter, crown–rump length and biparietal diameter were measured in 439 fetuses at between 8 and 15 weeks of gestation. The perinatal outcome was recorded for all patients. Results The umbilical cord diameter increased steadily from 8 to 15 weeks of gestation. A significant correlation was found between umbilical cord diameter and gestational age ( r = 0.78; P < 0.001), umbilical cord diameter and crown–rump length ( r = 0.75; P < 0.001) and umbilical cord diameter and biparietal diameter ( r = 0.81; P < 0.001). No correlation was found between umbilical cord diameter values and either birth weight or placental weight. Among patients who had a miscarriage ( n = 7) and pre‐eclampsia ( n = 8) the umbilical cord diameter was below 2 standard deviations from the mean in three cases (42.9%) and three cases (37.5%), respectively. Conclusion The measurement of the umbilical cord diameter in the first trimester is correlated with the growth of the embryo and may be a marker for identifying a subset of fetuses at risk of spontaneous miscarriage and pre‐eclampsia. Copyright © 2001 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology