title: First trimester tricuspid regurgitation and fetal abnormalities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a common sonographic finding during the fetal life. It has been reported in 7% of normal fetuses. It may be associated with aneuploidy and with both cardiac and extracardiac defects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we have looked at the characteristics of fetuses with and without TR at 11+0 to 13+6 weeks' gestation. Groups were compared with respect to the following variables: prevalence of chromosomal defects; other markers of aneuploidy; fetal cardiac; and extracardiac anomalies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included women, who underwent an ultrasound examination at 11-13+6 weeks' gestation between 2009 and 2012. The inclusion criteria were singleton pregnancies with crown-rump length measurements of 45-84 mm where the pregnancy outcome was known.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some 1075 patients met our inclusion criteria including 979 fetuses without TR and 96 with TR. There were 72 cases of aneuploidy diagnosed (6.7%). Isolated TR was found in 53 euploid fetuses (5.2%). All of the TR(+) aneuploid fetuses (n=40) had additional ultrasound markers present. Extracardiac anatomy showed a higher prevalence of abnormalities in the group of TR positives (12.5%) vs. TR negatives (1.6%). Abnormal cardiac findings were more frequent in the TR-positive group independently of chromosomal status and were found in 18.8% of fetuses with TR and in 1.9% with a normal tricuspid flow.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TR in combination with other markers is the strongest predictor for aneuploidy. TR, as an isolated parameter, is a poor screening tool both for all and for each individual chromosomal abnormality and congenital cardiac defects.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiechec
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nocun
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wiercinska
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beithon
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knafel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000782:Aneuploidy; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018568:Crown-Rump Length; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D048208:Nuchal Translucency Measurement; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal