Umbilical artery Thrombosis: A case report of prenatal diagnosis and systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Umbilical Artery Thrombosis (UAT) is an extremely rare complication of pregnancy strongly associated with severe fetal distress and death. The pathogenesis is still unclear but it is often associated with anatomical cord abnormalities that leads to blood stasis and thrombosis formation. Other possible risk factors are maternal thrombophilia, autoimmune disease, gestational diabetes, hypertension disorders of pregnancy and Rh-alloimmunization. The most common clinical symptom is the reduction of fetal movements. The diagnosis is histopathological, but it can be suspected by clinical and prenatal ultrasound findings. Generally, the first choice therapy is the immediate delivery with cesarean section.This study reported a case of a spontaneous intrauterine UAT in a low-risk pregnancy and a systematic review of the literature on clinical, ultrasound and histopathological findings of UAT, in order to help clinicians in the diagnostic process and management of this rare complication.