title: Outcome of chromosomally normal livebirths with increased fetal nuchal translucency at 10-14 weeks' gestation.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of chromosomally normal livebirths with increased fetal nuchal translucency at 10-14 weeks' gestation. Clinical follow up of 89 chromosomally normal livebirths that in fetal life had a minimum nuchal translucency thickness of 3.5 mm and a comparison group of 302 infants whose fetal nuchal translucency thickness at 10-14 weeks of gestation was less than 3.5 mm was performed. Major abnormalities, mainly structural defects of the cardiovascular or skeletal systems, were found in 10.1% (nine of 89) of the group with increased translucency, compared to 2% (five of 302) in those with translucency of less than 3.5 mm (chi2=11.9, p<0.001). Delay in achievement of developmental milestones was observed in one of the infants with increased translucency and in one of the comparison group. The findings of this study show that in chromosomally normal fetuses increased nuchal translucency thickness at 10-14 weeks of gestation is a marker for fetal abnormalities including structural defects and genetic syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Medical Genetics Unit, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Pandya
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greenough
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Nicolaides
mesh_terms: D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal