From dual to single umbilical artery: a case of umbilical artery thrombosis with hypercoiling and literature review
Umbilical artery thrombosis (UAT) is an extremely rare but severe obstetric complication associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, including fetal growth restriction (FGR), fetal distress, and intrauterine fetal demise. This case report highlights the diagnostic challenges of UAT and its potential...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1606697/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849232647667056640 |
|---|---|
| author | Weimin Ding Jiajia Yan Xinyu Lin Liangqi Yan Enfu Tao |
| author_facet | Weimin Ding Jiajia Yan Xinyu Lin Liangqi Yan Enfu Tao |
| author_sort | Weimin Ding |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Umbilical artery thrombosis (UAT) is an extremely rare but severe obstetric complication associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, including fetal growth restriction (FGR), fetal distress, and intrauterine fetal demise. This case report highlights the diagnostic challenges of UAT and its potential misdiagnosis as a single umbilical artery (SUA). A 32-year-old woman with a history of uncomplicated vaginal delivery was initially misdiagnosed with SUA at 29 3/7 weeks of gestation. At 32 1/7 weeks, detailed ultrasound examination revealed a single umbilical artery, FGR, and hypercoiling. Following a multidisciplinary evaluation and administration of fetal lung maturation therapy, a cesarean section was performed at 32 3/7 weeks of gestation. Intraoperatively, the umbilical cord measured 90 cm in length (normal range: 35–70 cm) with over 50 coils and exhibited localized discoloration. A male neonate weighing 1,490 g (5th percentile for gestational age) was delivered with Apgar scores of 10/10 at 1 and 5 minutes. Postnatal pathological examination confirmed UAT with arterial occlusion and hypercoiling. The neonate was treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and prematurity-related complications, achieving a favorable outcome with discharge at 27 days and normal developmental follow-up. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges of differentiating UAT from SUA and emphasizes the importance of meticulous prenatal ultrasound evaluation, particularly in cases of FGR. The hypercoiling observed in this case is exceptionally rare and may have contributed to the thrombotic event. Early recognition, timely intervention, and multidisciplinary management are critical to optimizing maternal and neonatal outcomes. This report also provides a comprehensive literature review on the etiology, diagnostic strategies, and management of UAT, highlighting the role of ultrasound and pathological examination in accurate diagnosis. The findings suggest that hypercoiling and abnormal cord length may be significant risk factors for UAT, warranting further investigation into their pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical implications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b5f1daf6e5f5476f8574bb1b34f095ab |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-b5f1daf6e5f5476f8574bb1b34f095ab2025-08-21T04:10:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-08-011210.3389/fmed.2025.16066971606697From dual to single umbilical artery: a case of umbilical artery thrombosis with hypercoiling and literature reviewWeimin Ding0Jiajia Yan1Xinyu Lin2Liangqi Yan3Enfu Tao4Department of Obstetrics, Wenling Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Wenling, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics, Wenling Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Wenling, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics, Wenling Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Wenling, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Ultrasound, Wenling Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Wenling, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Neonatology and NICU, Wenling Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Wenling, Zhejiang, ChinaUmbilical artery thrombosis (UAT) is an extremely rare but severe obstetric complication associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, including fetal growth restriction (FGR), fetal distress, and intrauterine fetal demise. This case report highlights the diagnostic challenges of UAT and its potential misdiagnosis as a single umbilical artery (SUA). A 32-year-old woman with a history of uncomplicated vaginal delivery was initially misdiagnosed with SUA at 29 3/7 weeks of gestation. At 32 1/7 weeks, detailed ultrasound examination revealed a single umbilical artery, FGR, and hypercoiling. Following a multidisciplinary evaluation and administration of fetal lung maturation therapy, a cesarean section was performed at 32 3/7 weeks of gestation. Intraoperatively, the umbilical cord measured 90 cm in length (normal range: 35–70 cm) with over 50 coils and exhibited localized discoloration. A male neonate weighing 1,490 g (5th percentile for gestational age) was delivered with Apgar scores of 10/10 at 1 and 5 minutes. Postnatal pathological examination confirmed UAT with arterial occlusion and hypercoiling. The neonate was treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and prematurity-related complications, achieving a favorable outcome with discharge at 27 days and normal developmental follow-up. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges of differentiating UAT from SUA and emphasizes the importance of meticulous prenatal ultrasound evaluation, particularly in cases of FGR. The hypercoiling observed in this case is exceptionally rare and may have contributed to the thrombotic event. Early recognition, timely intervention, and multidisciplinary management are critical to optimizing maternal and neonatal outcomes. This report also provides a comprehensive literature review on the etiology, diagnostic strategies, and management of UAT, highlighting the role of ultrasound and pathological examination in accurate diagnosis. The findings suggest that hypercoiling and abnormal cord length may be significant risk factors for UAT, warranting further investigation into their pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical implications.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1606697/fullumbilical artery thrombosissingle umbilical arteryfetal growth restrictionprenatal ultrasoundhypercoilingabnormal cord length |
| spellingShingle | Weimin Ding Jiajia Yan Xinyu Lin Liangqi Yan Enfu Tao From dual to single umbilical artery: a case of umbilical artery thrombosis with hypercoiling and literature review Frontiers in Medicine umbilical artery thrombosis single umbilical artery fetal growth restriction prenatal ultrasound hypercoiling abnormal cord length |
| title | From dual to single umbilical artery: a case of umbilical artery thrombosis with hypercoiling and literature review |
| title_full | From dual to single umbilical artery: a case of umbilical artery thrombosis with hypercoiling and literature review |
| title_fullStr | From dual to single umbilical artery: a case of umbilical artery thrombosis with hypercoiling and literature review |
| title_full_unstemmed | From dual to single umbilical artery: a case of umbilical artery thrombosis with hypercoiling and literature review |
| title_short | From dual to single umbilical artery: a case of umbilical artery thrombosis with hypercoiling and literature review |
| title_sort | from dual to single umbilical artery a case of umbilical artery thrombosis with hypercoiling and literature review |
| topic | umbilical artery thrombosis single umbilical artery fetal growth restriction prenatal ultrasound hypercoiling abnormal cord length |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1606697/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT weiminding fromdualtosingleumbilicalarteryacaseofumbilicalarterythrombosiswithhypercoilingandliteraturereview AT jiajiayan fromdualtosingleumbilicalarteryacaseofumbilicalarterythrombosiswithhypercoilingandliteraturereview AT xinyulin fromdualtosingleumbilicalarteryacaseofumbilicalarterythrombosiswithhypercoilingandliteraturereview AT liangqiyan fromdualtosingleumbilicalarteryacaseofumbilicalarterythrombosiswithhypercoilingandliteraturereview AT enfutao fromdualtosingleumbilicalarteryacaseofumbilicalarterythrombosiswithhypercoilingandliteraturereview |