Cardiac defects in chromosomally normal fetuses with abnormal ductus venosus blood flow at 10-14 weeks
- PMID: 10623988
- DOI: 10.1046/j.1469-0705.1999.14050307.x
Cardiac defects in chromosomally normal fetuses with abnormal ductus venosus blood flow at 10-14 weeks
Abstract
Objective: To assess a possible relationship between ductus venosus blood flow abnormalities and cardiac defects in chromosomally normal fetuses with increased nuchal translucency thickness at 10-14 weeks of gestation.
Methods: Ductus venosus Doppler ultrasound blood flow velocity waveforms were obtained at 10-14 weeks' gestation immediately before fetal karyotyping in 200 consecutive singleton pregnancies with increased nuchal translucency. Fetal echocardiography was subsequently carried out in those with normal fetal karyotype.
Results: Reverse or absent flow during atrial contraction was observed in 11 of the 142 chromosomally normal fetuses with increased nuchal translucency. Major defects of the heart and/or great arteries were present in seven of the 11 with abnormal ductal flow and increased nuchal translucency, but in none of the 131 with normal flow.
Conclusion: These preliminary results suggest that abnormal ductus venosus blood flow in chromosomally normal fetuses with increased nuchal translucency identifies those with an underlying major cardiac defect.
Comment in
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Nuchal translucency, ductus venosus and congenital heart disease: an important association--a cautious analysis.Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 1999 Nov;14(5):302-6. doi: 10.1046/j.1469-0705.1999.14050302.x. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 1999. PMID: 10623987 Review. No abstract available.