How to cite this article: Martínez-Frías ML, Bermejo E, Rodríguez-Pinilla E, Prieto D. 2007. Does single umbilical artery (SUA) predict any type of congenital defect? Clinical–epidemiological analysis of a large consecutive series of malformed infants. Am J Med Genet Part A 146A:15–25.
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Research Article
Does single umbilical artery (SUA) predict any type of congenital defect? Clinical–epidemiological analysis of a large consecutive series of malformed infants†
Article first published online: 12 NOV 2007
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.31911
Copyright © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Martínez-Frías, M. L., Bermejo, E., Rodríguez-Pinilla, E. and Prieto, D. (2008), Does single umbilical artery (SUA) predict any type of congenital defect? Clinical–epidemiological analysis of a large consecutive series of malformed infants. Am. J. Med. Genet., 146A: 15–25. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.31911
- †
Publication History
- Issue published online: 19 DEC 2007
- Article first published online: 12 NOV 2007
- Manuscript Accepted: 23 MAY 2007
- Manuscript Received: 5 SEP 2006
Funded by
- Fundación Raúl Gonzáles-Salas
- Abstract
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- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- single umbilical artery;
- SUA;
- malformations;
- congenital defects;
- frequency;
- epidemiology;
- prenatal diagnosis
Abstract
Most studies associating different types of malformations with the presence of a single umbilical artery (SUA) are based on small and selected series. Here, we present the results of a study aimed at identifying the most frequent, and the most specific anomalies related to SUA. We analyzed 19,909 consecutive newborn infants with congenital malformations, from the Spanish Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECEMC). To estimate the specificity of the relationship of different congenital defects with SUA, we calculated their relative frequencies (RF) by dividing their frequency in infants with SUA by the corresponding frequency in newborn infants without SUA. Using the different levels of the ECEMC coding system, we calculated the RFs in three steps: (a) a group of individual congenital defects, (b) different groups of malformed infants, and (c) each individual malformation by its clinical presentation in some of the studied groups of malformed infants. The defects most specifically associated with SUA were bilateral renal agenesis and imperforate anus, followed by unilateral renal agenesis, and vertebral defects, the RF of which indicated that they were between 7.99 and 9.93 times more frequent among malformed infants with SUA than among malformed infants without SUA. However, these defects were not as frequent in the group of infants with SUA, as cardiovascular anomalies. Regarding the association of SUA in the groups of malformed infants, the most specific groups were body stalk defects and sirenomelia. Finally, we analyzed the association of the individual defects by different groups of malformed infants in order to identify if the individual defects are associated with SUA in any type of clinical presentation, and in relation to some groups of infants with genetic disorders. The results, together with the embryonic development of the umbilical cord, strongly suggest that not all cases of SUA have the same cause, and that all previously suggested mechanisms may be possible but with different frequencies. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.