Nuchal translucency and cardiac abnormalities in euploid singleton pregnancies. (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shamshirsaz, Alireza A.; Salmanian, Bahram; Ravangard, Samadh F.; Shamshirsaz, Amirhoushang A.; Javadian, Pouya; Borgida, Adam; Turner, Garry; Feldman, Deborah; Spiel, Melissa; Benn, Peter; Campbell, Winston A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine. Volume 27:Number 5(2014:May)
• Page Start: 495
• Page End: 499
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Perinatology -- Periodicals; Infants (Newborn) -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neonatology -- Periodicals; 618.2
• DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2013.819336
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1476-7058

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Objective</italic>: To investigate different cut-off levels of nuchal translucency (NT) to predict abnormal cardiac findings (ACF) in second trimester ultrasound examination and confirmed postnatal congenital heart defects (CHD) in euploid pregnancies.</p> <p> <italic>Methods</italic>: A retrospective analysis was performed on singleton pregnancies examined in our ultrasound units from 2006 to 2011. Fetuses with an abnormal karyotype were excluded. Different cut-off levels of NT thickness were analyzed to evaluate its performance to detect the ACF on second trimester ultrasound (2nd US) examination and also the CHD detected in neonatal follow-up evaluation of ACF cases.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: Of the 12 840 cases, a total number of 8541 euploid pregnancies were included in the study. Thirty-three had ACFs detected by 2nd US (3.86/1000). The mean NT thickness was found to be higher in fetuses with ACFs (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0<italic>.</italic>0001). Of 33 ACFs, 17 (52%, 1.99/1000) had major CHDs in neonatal follow-up. The area under the ROC curves for NT thickness to predict ACFs and CHDs were 0.67 and 0.65, respectively.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusions</italic>: Higher NT thickness is associated with higher risk of ACF. NT is a weak predictor of ACF and major CHD; however, fetuses with an unexplained increase in NT measurement should be referred for further cardiac investigations.</p> </abstract>