[Limited value of prenatal risk group screening for heart abnormalities. Time for a general screening?].

544 fetuses at increased risk of cardiac malformations were examined by echocardiography from gestational week 14 to 40 (median 21), during the period January 1989-March 2002. A heart defect was diagnosed in 70 fetuses. Three false positive diagnoses and eight false negative diagnoses occurred (sensitivity 89 % and specificity 99 %).