Association of ultrasound findings with decision to continue Down syndrome pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association of ultrasound findings and other factors with the decision to terminate trisomy-21-affected pregnancies.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective analysis of trisomy-21-affected pregnancies diagnosed prior to 24 weeks' gestation. Data were collected on maternal age, indications for prenatal diagnosis, gestational age at diagnosis, marital status, race, parity and ultrasound findings. Logistic regression, chi(2), t test and Fishers exact test were used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Fifty-nine pregnancies were identified with a termination rate of 72.9%. Termination rates were significantly lower in patients with major (50%) or minor (64%) ultrasound abnormalities than in patients with normal ultrasound exams (92%), p = 0.026 and 0.022, respectively. Patients who chose terminations were older (36.1 vs. 32.3), but this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.059).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with abnormal ultrasound results were more likely to continue a trisomy 21 pregnancy.
Perry
Sandy
S
Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
Woodall
Angela L
AL
Pressman
Eva K
EK
D000029:Abortion, Legal / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003657:Decision Making; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal