THE CORRELATION BETWEEN NECK CIRCUMFERENCE AND UMBILICAL ARTERY BLOOD FLOW IN PHYSIOLOGIC PREGNANCIES.

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between neck circumference(NC) and umbilical artery blood flow in physiologic pregnancies. METHODS: One hundred and one healthy pregnant woman in the third trimester were enrolled. Anthropometric measurements and ultrasonic testing were done. RESULTS: The women with NC ≥34.7cm had a more elevated umbilical artery pulsatility index(PI) and systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D) than the women with NC <34.7cm (P<0.01). NC were positively correlated with PI(r=0.224,P=0.024) and S/D ratio(r=0.415,P=0.0001). In multivariate analysis, NC was independently associated with PI (ß=0.026, P=0.016) and S/D ratio (ß=0.132, P=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity has an adverse impact on feto-placetal vessels, and NC was superior to body mass index.