Pregnancy outcome and long-term follow-up of fetuses with isolated increased NT: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of associated findings, diagnosed either prior to or after birth, among fetuses with increased nuchal translucency (NT) and normal karyotype and to investigate the prevalence of children under therapy at school age, among cases confirmed to be isolated both prior to and after birth.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of all singleton pregnancies were referred for the 1st trimester screening for Down syndrome between January 2004 and December 2006. Cases with NT >95th percentiles who undertook fetal karyotype were analyzed.

Single center experience in selective feticide in high-order multiple pregnancy: clinical and ethical issues.

Objective: This paper describes the 20-year experience with selective feticide (SF) of high-order multiple quadruplet and higher pregnancies in a single center.

Methods: The paper describes protocols, procedures, management, outcomes, and ethical issues.

Results: SF was performed in 49 pregnancies with 244 fetuses, with median gestational age of 12+2 weeks.

Nuchal translucency and nasal bone for trisomy 21 screening: single center experience.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of fetal nuchal translucency and nasal bone assessment at 11-14 weeks for screening of trisomy 21 at a single center.

Methods: Nuchal translucency measurement and nasal bone evaluation in relation to the fetal karyotype for singleton fetuses were retrospectively assessed at the Ospedale Microcitemico, Cagliari, Italy, in a three-year period (2001-2004). Nuchal translucency was considered enlarged if greater than or equal to the 95th centile for crown-rump length (CRL) of the reference ranges, and nasal bone was described as present or absent during the evaluation of the fetal facial profile.

Nuchal translucency measurement at different crown-rump lengths along the 10- to 14-week period for Down syndrome screening.

Objectives: To evaluate the screening accuracy for Down syndrome of nuchal translucency (NT) measurement at different crown-rump length (CRL) subgroups along the 10- to 14-week period.

Methods: NT was classified 'enlarged' if greater than or equal to 1.5 and 2.

Absence of fetal nasal bone and aneuploidies at first-trimester nuchal translucency screening in unselected pregnancies.

Objectives: The absence of nasal bone (NB) has been noted in trisomy 21 fetuses at first-trimester ultrasound, in high-risk pregnancies. In this study, the nasal bone was evaluated in relation to fetal karyotype, in unselected pregnancies.

Methods: From September 2001 to September 2002, the fetal facial profile was examined at the 11 to 14 weeks' scan for screening by nuchal translucency (NT).

Changes in nuchal translucency thickness in normal and abnormal karyotype fetuses.

Objective: To investigate the dynamic trend of the nuchal translucency thickness between fetuses with normal and abnormal karyotype.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Ospedale Microcitemico, Cagliari, Italy.

Neural tube defects in the offspring of thalassemia carriers.

Objectives: The risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) is negatively correlated with maternal folate levels in early pregnancy. Thalassemia carriers often have reduced red cell folate contents. The aim of this study was to verify whether thalassemia carriers are at increased risk of having offspring with a NTD.

First-trimester ductus venosus velocimetry in relation to nuchal translucency thickness and fetal karyotype.

Aim: To evaluate first-trimester ductus venosus flow in relation to nuchal translucency (NT) and fetal karyotype.

Methods: Ductus venosus flow was measured in fetuses with NT greater than or equal to the 95th centile (group A) and in fetuses with NT less than the 95th centile (group B). The waveforms were classified as normal if the lowest forward velocity during atrial contraction (ACV) was positive and abnormal if it was absent or negative.