F116Wharton's jelly quantification during gestation and its correlation with fetal biometry

Abstract

BackgroundAbnormalities of the umbilical cord size have been associated with the growth of the fetus (Raio et al. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 1999; 13: 176). Therefore, this study was undertaken to generate a nomogram for the amount of Wharton's jelly (WJA) during gestation and to investigate whether it is related to fetal biometric parameters.MethodThe sonographic cross‐sectional area of the umbilical cord and of its vessels was measured in 627 healthy fetuses between 15 and 42 weeks of gestation. The WJA was calculated subtracting the vascular area from the umbilical cord area. The conventional biometric parameters were measured.ResultsThe WJA increases as a function of gestational age (r = 0.63, P < 0.001). A stron correlation was present between the WJA and the umbilical cord area (r = 0.97, P < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between the WJA and fetal biometric parameters (with BPD, r = 0.66, P < 0.001; with AC, r = 0.65, P < 0.001; with FL r = 0.64, P < 0.001) and between WJA and estimated fetal weight (r = 0.63, P < 0.001).ConclusionA nomogram for the WJ amount has been generated. The WJA increases as a function of gestational age and it is related either with fetal size and with umbilical cord diameter.