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Am J Perinatol 1991; 8(4): 239-243
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-999387
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1991 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Umbilical Artery Flow Velocity Waveforms and Cord Blood Viscosity

Fiona M. Fairlie, Gordon D. Lang, Gordon G. Lowe, James J. Walker
  • Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, United Kingdom
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Publication Date:
04 March 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The role of cord blood viscosity in determining the umbilical artery Doppler flow velocity waveform (FVW) was investigated in 22 normal pregnancies and 29 complicated pregnancies. FVWs were quantified by calculating the pulsatility index (PI). There was a significant correlation between an abnormal PI (more than 2 SD from the mean) and fetal growth retardation (less than 5th birthweight centile), cesarean section for fetal distress, and raised cord blood hematocrit. However, there was no relationship between whole blood or plasma viscosity measurements and the umbilical artery PI.