title: First- and second-trimester Down syndrome screening: current strategies and clinical guidelines.
abstract: Down syndrome (DS) is the most common human disease caused by a structural chromosome defect. The original screening test for DS was maternal age or a history of a previously affected infant. Maternal serum screening has been incorporated into routine prenatal checkup in Taiwan since 1994. We used free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha-fetoprotein (double test) as the serum markers, and this was carried out between the 15th to 20th week of gestation. The overall detection rate was 56% and was compatible with studies of Caucasian populations. The impact of double tests in Taiwan has shown itself by a dramatic lowering of the rate of DS live birth from 0.63 before screening to 0.16 per 1,000 live births at present. However, because of its relatively low detection rate and poor cost-effectiveness, the double test is not justified as a routine screening tool currently. First-trimester combined test is now becoming more widely available and provides increased sensitivity when detecting DS; it has a detection rate of approximately 85% with a false-positive rate of 5%. Nuchal translucency measurement requires ongoing quality control and sufficient certified obstetricians; therefore, first-trimester ultrasound is limited only in designated centers. The quadruple test, having comparable detection rate, should be considered for incorporation into second-trimester screening in Taiwan in the near future. Other screening approaches and combinations have also been utilized in the Western countries. In this review, we outline the various options with respect to DS screening and hope that this will provide practical information for physicians offering such screenings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sheng-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Jenn-Jeih
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chien-Nan
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ching-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Chih-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: T'sang-T'ang
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Po-Jen
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D048208:Nuchal Translucency Measurement; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology