Is the nuchal index increased in fetuses with congenital structural heart defects?
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the Nuchal index (NIx) is increased in euploid fetuses with structural congenital heart defects (CHD).


METHODS
Euploid fetuses with CHD between 18 and 24 weeks gestation were identified. The next fetus meeting the same criteria with a normal fetal echocardiogram were selected as a control. The NIx [(mean nuchal thickness /mean biparietal diameter) x 100] and cardiac axis (CA; degrees) were calculated for each fetus. Standard descriptive tests and two-tailed t test were used.


RESULTS
The NIx in the abnormal (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups were 9.10 (2.35) and 7.54 (p = 0.04) and CA was 55.8 degrees and 48.6 degrees (p = 0.02), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The NIx and CA were significantly different in fetuses with CHD. A prospective study to confirm these findings and determine clinical utility is warranted.
Dahlgren
Leanne S
LS
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia and the British Columbia Women's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
Duncan
Walter J
WJ
Farquarhson
Duncan F
DF
Sandor
George S
GS
Skoll
M Amanda
MA
Tessier
Francine
F
Lim
Kenneth I
KI
D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D048208:Nuchal Translucency Measurement; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First