Histomorphometric Study of Human Umbilical Cord in Normal and Intrauterine Growth Restricted Newborns

Abstract

newline Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is one of the known etiological newlinefactors for adverse neonatal outcome. It not only affects fetal, perinatal, neonatal newlineperiods, but also has long-term consequences on adult health too. It does not have newlinesatisfactory treatments and preventive measures. It remains one of the challenging newlineclinical problems. There have been fewer attempts in quantitative study of umbilical newlinecords (UC) morphology in relation with IUGR. The present study evaluates the newlinehistomorphological differences in UC of IUGR babies with special attention to newlineumbilical vessels and its impact on pregnancy outcome and neonatal anthropometry newlinecompared to normal babies. newlinePrimary Objective: newlineand#61623; To measure and compare the histomorphometric changes in umbilical cord newlineand its components of normal and IUGR groups. newlineSecondary Objectives: newlineand#61623; To determine the relationship between umbilical cord components and newlinepregnancy outcome between the two groups. newlineand#61623; To determine the relationship between umbilical cord components and newlineneonatal anthropometry between the two groups. newlineMethodology: The study comprised of total 249 samples, which involved 129 UCs of newlinenormal newborns and 120 UCs of IUGR newborns. The relevant personal data of newlinemothers and neonatal anthropometry were recorded in predesigned proforma. UC newlinesamples were collected at placental end soon after the delivery. Formalin fixed newlineparaffin blocks of UC were processed for HandE and Masson s trichrome staining for newlinelight microscopy. Measurements of UC and its components were taken using newlineXX newlineOlympus CX41 microscope with DP21 digital camera image analyzer following the newlinestandard operating procedures. newlineResults: Histomorphometry of UC and its components were significantly smaller newline(except lumen area of umbilical artery) in IUGR babies compared to normal ones. newlineIUGR babies have 28.74 and 9.43 times increased risk of having admission to newlineneonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and oligohydramnios compared to normal newlinenewborns respectively. Correlation study