Context: The cause for intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) occurring in early gestation in a high percentage of spontaneous abortions is unknown.
Objective: To determine the association, if any, of umbilical cord abnormalities with early IUFD.
Design: All cases of IUFD occurring within 16 weeks of gestation that presented to our hospitals between August 1998 and July 2001 were prospectively studied.