Increased fetal nuchal translucency thickness at 10-14 weeks: is screening for maternal-fetal infection necessary?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relation between increased fetal nuchal translucency thickness at 10-14 weeks of gestation and maternal-fetal infection.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine.


METHODS
Four hundred and twenty-six chromosomally normal pregnancies with increased fetal nuchal translucency thickness at 10-14 weeks of gestation and 63 with 'unexplained' second or third trimester fetal nuchal oedema or hydrops.


METHODS
Maternal serum infection screening and investigations for fetal infection in those with evidence of recent maternal infection.


METHODS
Maternal and fetal infection.


RESULTS
Evidence of recent maternal infection was present in six of the 426 pregnancies (1.4%) with increased fetal nuchal translucency thickness at 10-14 weeks, but in all cases a healthy infant was born with no evidence of infection. In contrast, 'unexplained' second or third-trimester fetal hydrops was associated with maternal infection in six of the pregnancies (9.5%) and in all cases there was evidence of fetal infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal-fetal infection is one of the causes of second or third trimester nuchal oedema or fetal hydrops. In contrast, the presence of increased nuchal translucency in the first trimester is not a marker of either maternal or fetal infection.
Sebire
N J
NJ
Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King's College Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
Bianco
D
D
Snijders
R J
RJ
Zuckerman
M
M
Nicolaides
K H
KH
D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D004487:Edema; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000209:etiology; D009333:Neck / Q000196:embryology*; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000635:transmission*