[Fetal malformations and chromosome abnormalities diagnosed at the Center of Prenatal Diagnosis of the University of Aquila in the 1995-1998 triennium].
BACKGROUND
Over the past few years numerous techniques have been developed, allowing an evaluation of fetal physiopathology that was unthinkable until recently. The authors describe 20 cases of fetal malformations and chromosomal abnormalities diagnosed by scan and amniocentesis at the Centre for Diagnosis and Obstetric Prophylaxis at L'Aquila University.


METHODS
Between January 1995 and April 1998 a total of 1180 amniocentesis and 4000 obstetric scans were performed in a group of 1650 pregnant women.


RESULTS
Of the patients examined using ultrasound scan, 8 presented manifest fetal pathologies, of which 5 were associated with chromosome abnormalities: 1) left ventricular hypoplasia, common atrium, tricuspid dysplasia; 2) omphalocele; 3) Morgagni-Stewart-Morel syndrome; 4) plurilobate cystic hygroma; 5) duodenal atresia; 6) Dandy-Walker syndrome; 7) cystic hygroma and hydrops; 8) cystic hygroma, hydrops, cardiopathy and Dandy-Walker syndrome. Among the pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis without a prior diagnosis of fetal malformation, 12 presented pathological fetal karyotypes: 2 cases of Turner's syndrome; 2 cases of Edward's syndrome; 2 cases of Klinefelter's syndrome, of deletion of a stretch of chromosome 8; 1 case of Down's syndrome; 2 cases of supernumerary marker chromosome; 1 twin pregnancy with Klinefelter's syndrome in one twin and paracentric inversion of chromosome 13 in the other; 1 twin pregnancy with a small supernumerary marker chromosome in both twins.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonography often enables the diagnosis of congenital abnormalities not associated with chromosome pathologies. However, karyotype studies play an essential role in pregnancies with a high genetic risk.
Carta
G
G
Clinica Ginecologica ed Ostetrica, Università degli Studi, L'Aquila.
Iovenitti
P
P
D'Alfonso
A
A
Mascaretti
G
G
Moscarini
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000175:diagnosis*; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003954:Diagnostic Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal