COMPUTERIZED MICROSCOPE MORPHOMETRY OF UMBILICAL VESSELS FROM PREGNANCIES WITH INTRAUTERINE GROWTH-RETARDATION AND ABNORMAL UMBILICAL ARTERY DOPPLER

Computerized microscope morphometry was used to study cross sections f rom the vessels of the umbilical cord in placentas of patients with in trauterine growth retardation (NGR) that displayed either normal or ab normal umbilical arteries (UA) Doppler flow velocity waveforms (FVW). Cords from 63 eutrophic fetuses with normal Doppler (controls), 47 IUG R fetuses with normal Doppler and 32 IUGR fetuses with abnormal Dopple r underwent morphometric analysis using a highly optimized microscope environment (HOME) and ''CordHOME'' software. IUGR with an accompanyin g normal Doppler versus control showed a reduction of Wharton jelly an d both the total and lumen vein areas. IUGR with an accompanying patho logical Doppler showed a comparable reduction in wall thickness and ar eas of every vessel. These findings indicate that the hypoplastic umbi lical vessels are associated with an increase in placental vascular re sistance that may be the consequence of underdevelopment in response t o a chronic reduction in placental blood flow. Copyright (C) 1997 by W .B. Saunders Company.