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Two blood vessels in the umbilicus(single umbilical artery) |
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What is this and what is its significance? |
Usually the umbilical cord has two arteries that bring blood to the fetus and one vein that
returns the blood to the placenta.
However, in 1% of pregnancies there is one vein and only one artery.
This can arise as a result of clotting and obliteration of the second artery, and it is
therefore more common in twin pregnancies, in which clots in blood vessels are more common.
Even though the fetus is apparently being nourished by only one artery, in 99% of cases this
will not affect its nutrition and its growth will be normal.
A single umbilical artery in itself is not a defect, because the umbilical cord is not an
organ of functional importance once the fetus is born.
However, it is an indication that various fetal defects may be present and tests should be
performed in order to look for these.
If any defects are found, further investigation is necessary because of an increased risk of
genetic and chromosomal syndromes.
In the great majority of cases there are no additional defects and the fetus's growth is normal.
In these cases, the extra risk for additional problems is less than 1% in excess of the
regular risk in pregnancy (3% - 4%).
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The extra risk is mainly of intrauterine growth retardation,
defects in the structure of the kidneys and urinary tract, heart defects,
cleft lip and palate, defects in the structure of the vertebrae, defects in the digestive system
(anal or esophageal atresia, which cause obstruction), and defects in the structure of the thumb.
These can all be detected by ultrasound.
Some reports in the literature show that even when there are no other
abnormal findings there is still an increased risk of an associated chromosome
disorder in cases where there is a single umbilical artery.
According to some studies there is a threefold increase in the risk for Down syndrome,
whereas other studies have shown that in the absence of additional defects demonstrated
by ultrasound there is no significant increase in the risk
for Down syndrome in particular and
chromosome disorders in general.
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What should be done if a single umbilical artery is diagnosed? |
- A thorough 3rd level ultrasound scan should be performed between the 22nd and the
24th week of gestation (and/or between the 15th and the 16th week) in order to look for
additional defects.
This should be aimed at looking specifically for the defects mentioned above, including
those of the heart.
- Fetal echocardiography can also be performed in the 24th week.
- The rate of growth of the fetus should be monitored.
- Amniocentesis (or chorionic villus sampling) is undoubtedly the only test that can
categorically rule out chromosome disorders.
However, it is neither medically indicated nor recommended that every pregnant woman
should undergo amniocentesis - only those who are at high risk of having a specific
problem that can be examined by this test (see information sheet titled: Why is there no medical
recommendation for amniocentesis in all cases?).
Most opinions hold that in the majority of the cases where the single umbilical artery
is an isolated finding, the weighted risk is not in the high-risk range for which
amniocentesis is recommended.
However, it should be noted that at the present time there are no accurate statistical
data that allow for a precise calculation of the weighted risk taking the results of all
the tests into account.
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For practical purposes: |
The "gold-standard" threshold for recommendation of amniocentesis is a risk of Down syndrome
greater than 1:386 based on the results of the biochemical marker screening tests, and when the
weighted risk is equal to or higher than this amniocentesis is generally recommended.
However, the presence of a single umbilical artery may statistically increase the risk of
Down syndrome.
Therefore in these cases some physicians suggest that this should be integrated with the
results of the biochemical screening tests and the new threshold for recommending
amniocentesis is a risk for Down syndrome of greater than 1:1000 in the
biochemical marker screening tests.
If other abnormal findings are also present, these guidelines are insufficiently established
and the woman should be referred for genetic counseling.
In genetic counseling, the necessity for amniocentesis can be assessed.
It is important to recommend counseling in all cases where other signs or defects are present,
because the risk of an associated chromosomal or other syndrome is then significantly
increased, and the advisability of performing further tests should be discussed.
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