Key words
umbilical cord anomaly - thin-cord syndrome - placental insufficiency - Whartonʼs
jelly
Schlüsselwörter
Nabelschnuranomalie - Thin-Cord-Komplex - Plazentainsuffizienz - Wharton-Sulze
Case History
A 35-year-old gravida 2 para 1 presented to our antenatal clinic at 29 + 4 weeks gestation
with mild vaginal bleeding. Speculum examination revealed under period strength, bright
red haemorrhage from the cervical canal. On ultrasound examination there was no evidence
of retroplacental haematoma, placenta praevia or vasa praevia. A slender fetus was
noted with growth parameters on the 5th percentile, normal amniotic fluid and normal
umbilical cord (UC) doppler parameters. The cervix was shortened – length 28 mm –
without funneling. The patient had previously been admitted to our department at 23 + 0
weeks gestation with brownish coloured spotting and had received steroids for fetal
lung maturation because of a retroplacental haematoma. At this stage a large placental
lacuna was considered in the differential diagnosis. Subsequent regular outpatient
follow-up at our antenatal clinic showed no further evidence of retroamnial or retrochorionic
haematoma.
At 29 + 4 weeks gestation steroids were repeated (2 doses of 12 mg betamethasone 24
hours apart). A vaginal swab was positive for anaerobe bacteria and GBS (no gardnerella)
which was treated with local fluomizin. On re-evaluation at 30 + 0 weeks, after 48
hours without further vaginal bleeding, the cervix was unchanged at 28 mm and no funneling.
However, the fibronectin test was positive (60 ng/ml) and the patient agreed to a
further period of in-patient observation. Subsequently, at 30 + 4 weeks gestation,
preterm rupture of membranes (PROM) occurred. In view of positive group B streptococcus
status intravenous antibiotics (infectocillin) and daily monitoring of infection markers
were commenced. Laboratory parameters including CRP levels remained normal and repeat
doppler ultrasound at 30 + 5 weeks was unremarkable. Following the positive PROM test,
PROM ultrasound did show oligohydramnios. At 31 + 2 weeks gestation a routine CTG
revealed multiple, recurrent decelerations with fetal heart rate (FHR) down to 80 bpm
(beats per minute) in the absence of uterine contractions. The situation did not improve
on changing the patientʼs position but FHR recovered following a partusisten (fenoterol
hydrobromide) bolus. The patient was immediately transferred to our delivery room
where tocolysis was continued with a partusisten infusion. In addition to CTG monitoring
the fetal heart rate was verified repeatedly by ultrasound; umbilical artery doppler
examination was performed repeatedly (resistance index [RI] 0.51, positive end diastolic
flow [EDF]). The placenta was sonographically unremarkable and there was no vaginal
bleeding. In our delivery room fetal bradycardia recurred (FHR 60 bpm) and fetal heart
rate recovered again after a new partusisten bolus. Due to this repetitive situation
of fetal bradycardia and decelerations it was decided to perform urgent caesarean
section in spinal anaesthesia. On arrival in the operating theatre, however, fetal
bradycardia was noted once again and emergency caesarean was then performed under
general anaesthesia. A male infant with mild respiratory depression was delivered
from a normal cephalic presentation (Apgar at 1/5/10 minutes: 7/8/8; arterial pH:
7.26; venous pH: 7.43; BE: − 5.2). Intraoperatively there were no signs of placental
abruption. The only notable finding was that the umbilical cord appeared, macroscopically,
unusually thin.
There were no postoperative complications. On consultation with the patient, and on
her request, the placenta and umbilical cord were sent for histological examination.
The anatomical pathology findings (macroscopic) were as follows: Placenta disc-shaped,
weight 315 g, size 13 × 11 × 2,8 cm with centrally inserting, 18 cm long section of
three-vessel, macroscopically lean (diameter: 0.4 cm) umbilical cord. No umbilical
cord knots. Placental surface on incision unremarkable.
Umbilical cord histology: Whartonʼs jelly essentially absent. UC otherwise normal
with three blood vessels ([Fig. 1]).
Fig. 1 Histological cross section of umbilical cord showing essential absence of Whartonʼs
jelly; cord otherwise normal with three blood vessels.
In summary: the placenta was assessed as eutrophic for the gestational age (32nd week
of pregnancy) but with premature placental aging consistent with the clinical suspicion
of placental insufficiency; the thin UC, with a maximum diameter of 4 mm, was consistent
with a diagnosis of lean umbilical cord (or so-called thin-cord syndrome).
Discussion
Lean umbilical cord is an UC anomaly characterised by reduced or completely absent
Whartonʼs jelly. The fetal umbilical cord consists of one vein, transporting oxygen-rich
blood from the placenta to the fetus, and two arteries, returning nutrient-poor, carbon
dioxide-rich blood back to the mother. Whartonʼs jelly surrounds the three UC vessels
providing a flexible protective layer against vessel compression, kinking and other
mechanical forces, thus assuring the fetal blood supply and removal of metabolic waste
products.
In a case report published in 1961 Samuel Pike Hall states his conviction that the
absence or reduction of Whartonʼs jelly could be responsible for many unexplained
intrauterine deaths, and that too little significance was attributed to this pathology
in routine clinical practice [4]. Raio et al. provide a detailed description of UC diameter as it develops through
the course of a pregnancy [8]. Our patient delivered in the 32nd week of pregnancy. According to their data normal
average cord diameter at this gestation is 16.59 mm, and the histopathologically determined
cord diameter of 4 mm in our case would correlate with the normal average cord thickness
in the 13th or 14th week of pregnancy. Raio and colleagues further describe an increase
in UC thickness up until the 33rd and 34th weeks of gestation to a maximum diameter
of 16.72 mm, and a subsequent decrease in thickness to an average of 15.59 mm at term
[8]. Weissman et al. also describe the changes the umbilical cord undergoes during pregnancy
using nomograms, observing a maximum UC diameter of up to 18 mm between the 38th and
39th weeks of pregnancy [10]. Both publications (Raio et al. and Weissman et al.) provide detailed tables of
UC diameter for the respective gestational ages [8], [10]. Weissman et al. use measures of cord diameter taken in the longitudinal plane,
whereas Raio et al. measure the cord in cross section (transverse plane). Both publications
recommend taking measurements as close to the fetal abdominal UC insertion as possible.
Another feature of our case that was typical of a lean umbilical cord was the ultrasound
finding of a slender fetus with growth along the 5th percentile in the presence of
normal UC doppler parameters (small for gestational age, SGA). Bruch et al. describe
an association between reduced Whartonʼs jelly, hypoplastic UC blood vessels and fetal
intrauterine growth retardation due to resulting placental insufficiency without pathological
doppler parameters [1]. Raio et al. also conclude that fetuses with thin umbilical cords are at increased
risk of growth below the 10th percentile (SGA or IUGR) compared to those with normal
UC diameters and more often show signs of stress at birth [6], [7]. They state that fetuses shown to have thin umbilical cords on ultrasound from 20
weeks gestation onwards have a 4.4 times increased risk of being SGA at birth [7]. When ultrasound was conducted after 25 weeks gestation the risk was increased to
12.5 times [7]. In addition, they report that babies with thin UCs were significantly more likely
than those with normal thickness cords to have a 5-minute Apgar score < 7, and oligohydramnios
was more common [7].
It should however be noted that a lean umbilical cord does not necessarily always
result in complications. Raio and Ghezzi et al. highlight that many pregnancies remain
uncomplicated despite a lean UC on ultrasound examination, and that additional criteria
should be sought in order to identify higher risk situations. For example, according
to Ghezzi et al., the strongest predictor of poor outcome is the umbilical vein cross-sectional
area, i.e. the diameter of the vein with respect to UC cross-sectional diameter [3], and report significantly increased numbers of perinatal fetal death and increased
neonatal intensive care admission rates when the umbilical vein area is below the
10th percentile [3]. There is also a significant association between increased IUGR rate and lean umbilical
cord where the UC area is below the 2.5 percentile. Other studies agree with these
results and recommend the measurement of UC area as a screening parameter to detect
patients with values below the 10th percentile, allowing monitoring to be intensified
as appropriate [1], [7], [9].
Conclusion
Today it is known that a lean umbilical cord due to reduced or completely absent Whartonʼs
jelly is associated with a worse neonatal outcome in affected children [2], [3], [5], [7], [9]. In the case presented here the combination of a lean UC and reduced amniotic fluid
secondary to PROM was most likely responsible for reduced fetal perfusion, which in
turn produced recurrent decelerations on CTG prompting urgent delivery. Of note, the
CTG only became pathological relatively late, which could be explained by the combination
of PROM, lean UC and the fetal position, resulting in mechanical UC compression. This
case illustrates that in the presence of oligohydramnios, SGA or IUGR it is not only
important to assess fetal doppler parameters and the number of UC vessels, but also
cord morphology, since in rare cases this can play an important role. It would seem
sensible to assess UC morphology sonographically on a routine basis, or at least in
the presence of SGA or IUGR of uncertain cause, thus enabling detection of women who
might benefit from more intensive antenatal monitoring. In our case prior knowledge
of the presence of a lean UC would not have altered obstetric management since close
observation and monitoring were already indicated due to SGA and PROM. Notably, however,
postpartum knowledge of this diagnosis was important for the patient involved as it
provided an explanation for her preterm delivery, and the low recurrence risk was
significant from a psychological point of view with respect to the planning of possible
future pregnancies.
