A. Borrell et al., REVERSED END-DIASTOLIC UMBILICAL FLOW IN A FIRST-TRIMESTER FETUS WITHCONGENITAL HEART-DISEASE, Prenatal diagnosis, 18(10), 1998, pp. 1001-1005
Reversed end-diastolic umbilical artery velocities and a reduced chori
onic sac were first seen at 10 weeks in a pregnancy subsequently showi
ng a normal male karyotype on chorionic villi. Four weeks later Dopple
r studies demonstrated normal umbilical artery waveforms. At 20 weeks,
ultrasound examination of the fetus revealed a mild pericardic effusi
on, hypoplastic right heart with hypertrophic myocardium and a single
umbilical artery, suggesting pulmonary atresia. After neonatal death,
pathological studies confirmed pulmonary atresia. This case suggests t
hat reversed end-diastolic umbilical flow in the first trimester may i
dentify a subgroup of fetuses with a lethal abnormality (heart defect,
severe intra-uterine retardation, aneuploidy or others). (C) 1998 Joh
n Wiley & Sons, Ltd.