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First‐trimester placental volume as a marker for chromosomal anomalies: preliminary results from an unselected population
Author(s) -
Metzenbauer M.,
Hafner E.,
Schuchter K.,
Philipp K.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2002.00655.x
Subject(s) - trisomy , medicine , obstetrics , gynecology , aneuploidy , gestation , down syndrome , population , first trimester , fetus , pregnancy , chromosome , biology , genetics , environmental health , psychiatry , gene
Objective To compare first‐trimester placental volume in chromosomally abnormal and normal pregnancies. Methods Placental volumes were routinely recorded at the time of nuchal translucency thickness measurement at 10–13 weeks of gestation. This was done using customized three‐dimensional ultrasound equipment and measurements were then converted to the placental quotient (placental volume/fetal crown–rump length). The possible difference in placental quotient between chromosomally normal and abnormal pregnancies was examined. Results A total of 2863 pregnancies was evaluated, including 17 with major chromosomal defects (nine cases of trisomy 21, four of trisomy 18, two of trisomy 13, and one each of Turner syndrome and 48,XXY + 21). The median placental quotient in the chromosomally abnormal group (0.67) was significantly lower than that in the normal fetuses (0.98). In nine of the 17 affected pregnancies the quotient was below the 10th centile of the normal range. Conclusions Assessment of placental volume may prove to be useful in first‐trimester risk assessment for chromosomal anomalies. Copyright © 2002 ISUOG