THE EFFECT OF IMPROVEMENT OF UMBILICAL ARTERY ABSENT END-DIASTOLIC VELOCITY ON PERINATAL OUTCOME

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze cases in which antenatal improvement of absent fetal umbilical artery end-diastolic velocity was detected and to correlate improvement with perinatal outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Forty cases of umbilical artery absent end-diastolic velocity in singleton pregnancies were retrospectively reviewed. Maternal characteristics and perinatal outcomes were compared in cases where improvement of end-diastolic velocity was diagnosed and those in which no improvement was detected. RESULTS: Eleven cases of absent end-diastolic velocity showed antenatal improvement and were associated with more advanced gestational age at delivery, longer diagnosis-to-delivery interval, larger birth weights, and a lower incidence of neonatal death than those fetuses without antenatal improvement. CONCLUSION: Improvement of umbilical artery absent end-diastolic velocity can occur and is associated with improved pregnancy outcome when compared with patients without antenatal improvement of diastolic velocity.