Isolated Single Umbilical Artery and Its Impact on Pregnancy Outcomes
Author Information
Author(s): Ana María Cubo, Alicia Moreno, Mercedes Sánchez-Barba, María Ángeles Cabrero, Tatiana Costas, María O Rodríguez, María Estrella Hernández Hernández, Polán Ordás, Ana Villalba Yarza, Francisco Javier Goenaga, María Victoria Lapresa-Alcalde, Roland Axt-Fliedner
Primary Institution: Hospital Universitario de Salamanca
Hypothesis
Is the presence of isolated single umbilical artery (ISUA) associated with adverse perinatal outcomes?
Conclusion
ISUA is associated with a lower birth weight but does not increase the risk of prematurity or low-birth-weight-related neonatal admissions.
Supporting Evidence
- ISUA was associated with a lower gestational age (38 vs. 39 weeks).
- ISUA was linked to a lower birth weight (3013 vs. 3183 g).
- No significant differences were found in malformations, genetic disorders, or neonatal admissions.
Takeaway
Having only one artery in the umbilical cord can mean babies might weigh less, but it doesn't seem to cause other problems like being born too early.
Methodology
A descriptive, observational and retrospective study analyzing 1234 pregnancies, comparing those with ISUA to those with a three-vessel cord.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of ISUA due to false positives or negatives in prenatal ultrasound diagnosis.
Limitations
Data on umbilical cord anomalies and placental disorders were not collected, and there was a significant time gap between data collection for ISUA cases and control group cases.
Participant Demographics
Mean maternal age was 32 years, with most pregnancies being spontaneous (89.4%).
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.99–1.63
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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