title: Increased nuchal translucency and pregnancy outcome: a retrospective study of 1063 consecutive singleton pregnancies in a single referral institution.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goals of this study are to assess pregnancy outcome with increased nuchal translucency (NT) and to determine the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome in relation to the degree of increased NT.
  
  
  METHODS
  All singleton pregnancies with increased NT at the first screening ultrasound examination referred to the Department of Fetal Medicine at the Helsinki University Central Hospital during 2002 to 2007 were included. Pregnancy outcomes and short-term outcomes of the newborns were recorded and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1063 pregnancies, karyotype was normal in 834 (78%). The majority, 611 (73%), of euploid fetuses was in the lowest NT group (95th percentile--3.4 mm). Percentage of favorable outcome decreased from 92% in the lowest NT group (95th percentile--3.4 mm) to 18% in the highest NT group (≥6.5 mm). Structural defects or genetic disorders were observed in 74 (9%) of cases with normal karyotype, of which 43 (58%) resulted in live birth, 25 (34%) in termination of pregnancy, and 6 (8%) in miscarriage or perinatal death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even minimal (95th percentile--3.4 mm) increase in NT thickness is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome also in euploid fetuses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Outi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ayräs
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tikkanen
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eronen
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paavonen
authors.forename: Vedran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stefanovic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018568:Crown-Rump Length; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007621:Karyotyping; D008875:Middle Aged; D048208:Nuchal Translucency Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult