ASSOCIATION OF SINGLE UMBILICAL ARTERY WITH CONGENITAL-MALFORMATIONS OF VASCULAR ETIOLOGY

The possible association of a single umbilical artery (SUA) with malfo rmations of vascular etiology is investigated in this study. Four hund red twelve fetal and embryonic autopsies showing one or more congenita l malformations, collected over 7 years, were reviewed. Microscopic co nfirmation of a SUA was evident in 20 cases (4.85%). The two subgroups with 2 (n(A) = 20) or 3 umbilical vessels (n(B) = 392) were compared with each other, in relation to the frequency of malformations per org an system. In the group of fetuses with congenital malformations, no a ssociation was observed between SUA and the incidence of CNS, cardiac, pulmonary, or genital malformations. However, there was a significant ly higher incidence of atresia of hollow organs (P = 0.003), renal apl asia (P = 0.034), and limb reduction defects (LRD) (P = 0.0383) when o nly a single umbilical artery was present. This suggests a possible et iopathogenetic association of SUA with congenital malformations of vas cular etiology. Furthermore, the findings of our study suggest that pr enatal identification of a SUA warrants a thorough search for atresias , renal aplasia, and LRD-type malformations.