NEONATAL OUTCOME AFTER PREGNANCY COMPLICATED BY ABNORMAL VELOCITY WAVE-FORMS IN THE UMBILICAL ARTERY

The neonatal outcome of 61 infants born after pregnancies complicated by absent or reversed end diastolic flow velocities (AREDFV) in the fe tal umbilical artery was compared with that of 61 controls matched for gestational age born after high risk pregnancies with documented forw ard end diastolic flow velocities (EDFV). The AREDFV group was signifi cantly more growth retarded, had lower platelet counts at birth, and w ere more likely to become significantly thrombocytopenic in the first week after birth. Owing to concerns about the possible increased risk of necrotising enterocolitis in newborn infants after AREDFV, this gro up was started on enteral feeds later and was more likely to receive p arenteral nutrition than the EDFV group. Seven infants with AREDFV and one control infant developed necrotising enterocolitis.