ISOLATED REVERSED UMBILICAL ARTERIAL BLOOD-FLOW ON DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND FETAL HICCUPS

Absent and reversed UA end-diastolic blood flow is usually a poor prog nostic sign. However, in 19 fetuses evaluated in the Fetal Diagnosis a nd Treatment Unit, we observed an unusual pattern of intermittent, sig nificantly decreased, or reversed UA blood flow that coincided with a demonstration of fetal hiccuping. No evidence of cardiac arrhythmia, h eart failure, or uteroplacental dysfunction was found in these fetuses . With one exception, all Doppler evaluations were otherwise normal. A potential mechanism of intermittent fetal UA blood flow reversal is d iscussed.