Prenatal Ultrasound Diagnosis and Prognosis of Fetal Persistent Right Umbilical Vein

Objective To conduct a prospective study to evaluate prenatal ultrasound diagnosis and prognosis of fetus with persistent right umbilical vein(PRUV). Methods From January 2008 to January 2010, middle-and low-risk pregnant women were prospectively evaluated at the Department of Ultrasound in West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University about persistent right umbilical vein, additional malformation and karyotype analysis. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Results Persistent right umbilical vein was detected in 20 fetuses of 7692 pregnancies(0.26%). 4 of them had additional malformation, 16 had no isolated persistent right umbilical vein, 14 fetuses were normal and healthy at birth. Chromosomal defects were including trisomy 21 diagnosed in 1 of 9 cases that accepted karyotype examination. Conclusion The sonographic finding of persistent right umbilical vein is an indication for conducting extensive detailed anatomic survey to ruled out major congenital malformations. In about 80% of persistent right umbilical vein is an isolated finding with favorable outcome. Persistent right umbilical vein fetus with additional sonographic abnormalities, which should be advised to accept karyotype analysis. Key words: ultrasound; persistent right umbilical vein(PRUV); congenital malformation; chromosomal abnormality