A 34-year-old pregnant woman, G3P2, with a known history of hypothyroidism, has a baby with a single umbilical artery. What is the most likely cause?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the likely cause of a single umbilical artery in a fetus, given the mother's medical history (34-year-old, pregnant G3P2, history of hypothyroidism). This requires knowledge of prenatal conditions and their association with fetal abnormalities.
Answer
Error during early vascular development.
While the exact cause of a single umbilical artery (SUA) is often unknown, the most likely cause is an error during vascular development in early embryogenesis.
Answer for screen readers
While the exact cause of a single umbilical artery (SUA) is often unknown, the most likely cause is an error during vascular development in early embryogenesis.
More Information
A single umbilical artery (SUA), also known as a two-vessel cord, occurs in approximately 1% of pregnancies. Although many infants with SUA are otherwise healthy, it can sometimes be associated with other congenital anomalies. Risk factors include maternal diabetes, but in many cases, the cause remains unknown. Advanced maternal age and ethnicity have also been identified as potential risk factors.
Tips
It is a common mistake to assume that every medical condition has a direct and obvious cause. Especially in cases like SUA, the cause can be multifactorial or simply unknown.
Sources
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