The performance of second trimester long bone ratios for Down syndrome screening is influenced by gestational age

Eileen Wang*, Catherine Chen, Elizabeth Glimco, William Grobman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective.To determine if gestational age (GA) at the time of ultrasound impacts the positive predictive value of shortened femur and humerus lengths (FL, HL) for trisomy 21 (T21). Methods.Sonograms from 14 to 21 and 6/7 weeks' gestation were collected over a 28 month period. Multiple gestations or fetuses with major structural anomalies were excluded. Biometric data and GA were obtained; the expected HL (or FL): observed HL (or FL) ratios were calculated using two regression formulas (Benacerraf and Nyberg). A HL ratio <0.90 and a FL ratio <0.91 were considered shortened. T21 fetuses were identified through database and chart review. Positive predictive values (PPV) for T21 of the shortened bone ratios were determined, then stratified by GA. Results.Of the 2606 ultrasounds, 8.9 and 18.9 of fetuses had shortened HL and FL ratios, respectively, using the Benacerraf formula. Shortened ratios were noted significantly less commonly (2.3 and 4.4, respectively, P<0.001 for each) using the Nyberg formula. With either formula, abnormal bone ratios were more frequently documented with a GA less than 17 weeks (P<0.001). There were 17 T21 pregnancies. Conclusions.GA and formula selection influence the performance of long bone ratios as soft markers for T21 in the second trimester.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)642-645
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine
Volume23
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2010

Keywords

  • Down syndrome screening
  • Femur length
  • Humerus length
  • Second trimester

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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