Reproductive Health (Nov 2011)

Area of Wharton's jelly as an estimate of the thickness of the umbilical cord and its relationship with estimated fetal weight

  • Marussi Emilio F,
  • Costa Maria L,
  • Surita Fernanda G,
  • Cecatti Jose G,
  • Barbieri Cristiane,
  • Costa Jose V

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-4755-8-32
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
p. 32

Abstract

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Abstract Background To build a reference curve for the area of Wharton's jelly (WJ) in low-risk pregnancies from 13 to 40 weeks and to assess its relationship with estimated fetal weight (EFW). Methods 2,189 low-risk pregnancies had the area of WJ estimated by ultrasound and the 10th, 50th and 90th percentiles calculated using a third-degree polynomial regression procedure. EFW by ultrasound was correlated with the measurement of the area of WJ. Results The area of WJ increased according to gestational age (R2 = 0.64), stabilizing from the 32nd week onwards. There was a significant linear correlation between area of WJ and EFW up to 26 weeks (R = 0.782) and after that 5t remained practically constant (R = 0.047). Conclusion The area of WJ increases according to gestational age, with a trend to stabilize at around 32 weeks of gestation. It is also linearly correlated with EFW only up to 26 weeks of gestation.

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