title: Natural history of fetal trisomy 18 after prenatal diagnosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the natural fetal and neonatal outcome for pregnancies with an established prenatal diagnosis of fetal trisomy 18, and a parental decision for continuation of the pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The obstetric and neonatal outcome data for 23 such pregnancies, diagnosed at a single referral Fetal Medicine Centre, were retrospectively obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall intrauterine fetal death rate was 61%, with a progressive decline in live fetuses up to 39 weeks gestation. For fetuses diagnosed before 20 weeks gestation, there was a trend towards a higher intrauterine fetal death rate (88%), in comparison to those diagnosed after this period (44%) (p=0.06). For live births, the preterm delivery rate was 44%. All infants born alive died within 48 h of birth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data provide reliable information for parental counselling pertaining to risk of intrauterine death when trisomy 18 is diagnosed prenatally. These findings suggest that long-term survival implications for trisomy 18 are different when it is diagnosed prenatally.
authors.affiliation: Galway University Hospital, National University of Ireland Galway, Newcastle Road, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Annette L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000235:genetics; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014314:Trisomy / Q000175:diagnosis*