A retrospective study on risk factors, diagnostic approaches, and pregnancy outcomes in patients with umbilical artery and vein thrombosis

Our study demonstrated that UCT was extremely unfavorable to the perinatal outcomes. Umbilical cord torsion may be a risk factor for the development of UCT. The risk of IUFD was further increased in cases with UCT that coexisted with APS. UAT was more likely to be detected prenatally via ultrasound than UVT; however, UVT was more frequently observed in pregnant women who exhibited insufficient gestation weight gain or conceived through assisted reproductive technology. During routine ultrasound examination, color Doppler assessment of key anatomical sites, together with close monitoring of umbilical artery and MCA indices, might facilitate the early detection of UCT. Although prenatal diagnosis of UCT was significantly challenging, it remained feasible and can provide valuable assistance for clinical management.