Incidence of aplasia of the umbilical artery in fetuses with intrauterine retardation]

The author analysed the occurrence of the aplasia of the umbilical artery in 320 umbilical cords of fetuses with intrauterine retardation and in 225 umbilical cords of normal fetuses and a normal course of pregnancy used as controls. Aplasia of the umbilical artery in umbilical cords of fetuses with intrauterine retardation was found in 5.93% and in the control group in 0.44% of cases (P less than 0.05). Fetuses with intrauterine retardation and aplasia of the umbilical artery showed a velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord in 31.57% of cases, an approximate duration of pregnancy of 36 weeks and 5 days, and the mean birth weight of 2250 +/- 2 S.D. 420 g. Out of 19 fetuses with intrauterine retardation and aplasia of the umbilical artery, 6 had congenital anomalies which in 50% of cases could not be detected by external examination. Perinatal mortality of fetuses with intrauterine retardation and aplasia of the umbilical artery proved to amount to 368.43% and of fetuses in the control group to 8.88% (P less than 0.05).