Umbilical Cord Ulcer and Intrauterine Death in Fetal Intestinal Atresia.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the incidence of umbilical cord ulcer (UCU) that causes intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) in fetal duodenal or jejunoileal atresia and the association between UCU and bile acid concentrations in amniotic fluid.

METHODS

Perinatal outcomes were evaluated in cases of fetal intestinal atresia between 2003 and 2017. A pathological examination of the umbilical cord was performed, and bile acid concentrations in the amniotic fluid were measured.

RESULTS

Among the 46 cases included in this study, there were 27 with duodenal atresia and 19 with jejunoileal atresia. There were 4 cases (8.7%) of IUFD and 1 (2.2%) neonatal death with multiple structural anomalies. UCUs were found in 37.5% (15/40) of cases, and severe UCUs with exposed vessels were significantly more common in IUFD (3/4) than in livebirth (0/42) cases (p < 0.01). The incidences of chromosomal abnormality and structural anomalies were not markedly different between livebirth (9/30 and 11/42, respectively) and IUFD (1/3 and 1/4, respectively) cases. Bile acid concentrations in amniotic fluid were significantly higher in cases of UCUs than in those without (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

UCUs were not rare in fetal intestinal atresia and were associated with high bile acid concentrations in amniotic fluid. UCUs with exposed vessels were associated with IUFD in intestinal atresia.