title: [Prenatal screening of congenital heart defects in population at low risk of congenital defects. A reality today].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We propose to demonstrate that it is possible to implement a valid (diagnostic sensitivity for major cardiac malformations 90%), and universal (applied to over 90% of pregnant women), prenatal screening method for congenital heart defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study. A total of 12478 pregnant women were evaluated between January 2008 and December 2010. Congenital heart diseases were screened using fetal extended basic echocardiography (cardiac ultrasound).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of birth defects in general and congenital heart disease was 2.5% (2.2-2.7%) and 0.9% (0.7-1%) respectively. Congenital heart disease had a higher rate of association with other structural abnormalities with 11.5% (5.6-17.4%), 21% for major congenital heart disease (9.9-32%), and chromosomal abnormalities of 15.9% (9.1-22.7%), with 32.6% for major congenital heart disease (19.8-45.3%). A fetal cardiac ultrasound assessment was performed on 99.2% of pregnant women. The fetal echocardiography is useful for the diagnosis of congenital heart disease in general, and major congenital heart disease, with a sensitivity of 42.8% (33.5-52.5%) and 90.4% (78.9-96.8%), respectively, and a specificity for both of 99.9% (99.8-99.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to perform a valid prenatal and universal screening of major congenital heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Universitario Valme, Sevilla, España. Electronic address: joseantoniosainz@hotmail.es.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sainz
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Universitario Valme, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zurita
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Unidad de Cardiología Infantil, Hospital Universitario Valme, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Guillen
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Universitario Valme, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borrero
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Universitario Valme, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Mejido
authors.affiliation: Sección de Estadística de la Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Universitario Valme, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Universitario Valme, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turmo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Universitario Valme, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garrido
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Birth defects; Cardiopatías congénitas; Congenital heart defects; Defectos congénitos; Diagnóstico prenatal; Malformación estructural; Prenatal diagnosis; Structural malformation