Objectives: To evaluate the relation among the ultrasonographic, morphometric parameters of the umbilical cord during physiological and pathological pregnancy.
Design: Ultrasonographic morphometric parameters were prospectively evaluated in 29 consecutive cases of physiological and 42 cases of pathological pregnancies.
Materials and methods: 71-ultrasonographic examinations was performed between 28-40 weeks of gestation. The examined group consisted of 29-physiological pregnancies and 42-pathologic. 15-was complicated with the risk of preterm delivery. 27-was complicated with hypotrophy caused by Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) in 14 cases and by exposure to tobacco smoke in 13 cases.
Results and conclusions: We showed no statistically important correlation between the umbilical parameters and the period of pregnancy except of A/B index, measuring Doppler flow in umbilical artery which value was decreasing together with the period of gestation (r = -0.6185, p < 0.05). Hypocoiling umbilical cord characterised the group of patients which pregnancy was complicated with premature delivery. Statistically important decreasing of diameter value of umbilical cord and umbilical vein in cases of pregnancy complicated with hypotrophy was revealed. We found out the strong correlation between hypercoiling of umbilical cord as well as diameter of umbilical cord and degree of intensification of hypotrophy in smoking women (r = -0.8, p < 0.05).