Аннотация:Background . The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between Doppler velocimetry and synthesis of prostacyclin (PGI 2 ) and thromboxane A 2 (TxA 2 ) in umbilical cord vessels. The hypothesis was that an altered balance between PGI 2 and TxA 2 production is associated with a change of artery flow resistance. Methods . 17 cases with a suspicion of intrauterine growth retardation and 21 normal pregnancies were studied. The umbilical artery pulsatility index (PI) and venous mean velocity were recorded in vivo by Doppler velocimetry. Cord vessel prostanoid synthesis was determined in vitro . The Mann‐Whitney U test and simple linear regression were used for statistical analyses. Results . The umbilical vessel synthesis of both PGI 2 and TxA 2 was in general lower in small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) cases ( n =10) compared to appropriate‐for‐gestational age (AGA) ( n =28). In the vein, the PGI 2 /TxA 2 ratio was significantly lower in SGA cases. No certain correlations were found between umbilical artery PI and venous velocity, respectively, and PGI 2 or TxA 2 , or their ratio. Conclusion . The prostanoid synthesis was in general lower in SGA cases, resulting in a significantly lower PGI 2 /TxA 2 ratio in the umbilical vein. This indicates that fetal growth retardation might be associated with a disturbed endothelial function in this vessel. The synthesis of PGI 2 and TxA 2 in the juxtaplacental umbilical cord vessels was not correlated to the umbilical artery PI or venous flow velocity. It is possible that an altered release of prostanoids in the placental vasculature and tissue accounts for the rise of umbilical artery flow resistance instead.
