Clinical significance of umbilical artery intermittent vs persistent absent end-diastolic velocity in growth-restricted fetuses

Umbilical artery absent end-diastolic velocity indicates increased placental resistance and is associated with increased risk of perinatal demise and neonatal morbidity in fetal growth restriction. However, the clinical implications of intermittent vs persistent absent end-diastolic velocity are unclear. We compared umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry changes during pregnancy and neonatal outcomes between pregnancies with fetal growth restriction and intermittent absent end-diastolic velocity and those with persistent absent end-diastolic velocity. In this retrospective study of singletons with fetal growth restriction and absent end-diastolic velocity, umbilical artery Doppler abnormalities were classified as follows: intermittent absent end-diastolic velocity (