A case of prenatal diagnosis of single umbilical artery due to thrombosis diagnosed by the ultrasound finding of "wink-sign"

Objectives: Umbilical artery thrombosis is a significant umbilical cord condition that is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, no consensus has been reached regarding how umbilical artery thrombosis should be diagnosed or managed because of its rarity and the difficulty associated with an antenatal diagnosis. Case presentation: Here, we describe a case involving decreased fetal movement and non-reassuring fetal status (NRFS) in which acute umbilical artery thrombosis was prenatally diagnosed. Transabdominal ultrasound showed that the cross-section of the umbilical cord had one normal artery and a small deformed echogenic area. A characteristic ultrasound finding known as the "wink sign"contributed to the prenatal diagnosis. Conclusions: Evaluation of the umbilical cord enabled the estimation and facilitated the subsequent antenatal management.