Alterations in ductus venosus velocity indices in relation to umbilical venous pulsations and perinatal outcome.

Changes in ductus venosus blood flow during systole occur more rarely than diastolic changes, and alterations in end-diastolic blood velocity in the ductus venosus might give false-positive indications of worsening fetal condition. Umbilical venous pulsations seem to better predict adverse outcome of pregnancy than do indices in the ductus venosus.