Testing for Down syndrome in the older woman: a risky business?
For over 30 years, antenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome has been offered on the basis of advanced maternal age. While this was appropriate in the 1970s, developments in antenatal screening have rendered this a most inefficient strategy that is associated with excessive costs and procedure-related pregnancy losses. In this article we argue for a review of how we test for Down syndrome in the older woman.
Hodges
Ryan J
RJ
Women's and Children's Program, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Wallace
Euan M
EM
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity