Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the fetal outcome of first-trimester pregnancies with reversed end-diastolic flow in the umbilical artery.
Study design: Doppler studies in the umbilical artery were carried out in 2970 consecutive pregnancies scanned at 10 to 14 weeks.
Results: We observed 11 (0.4%) cases of reversed end-diastolic flow. Of these, an autosomal trisomy was shown in 7 and a congenital heart defect in 2 additional fetuses. Fetal demise was observed in 5 pregnancies, neonatal death was observed in 1, and termination of pregnancy was carried out in 4. Only 1 fetus survived.
Conclusions: Reversed end-diastolic flow in first-trimester umbilical artery signals an ominous prognosis even with normal karyotype.