Objective: To determine the diagnostic performance of ultrasound markers associated with life-limiting fetal skeletal dysplasia in a fortified cohort.

Methods: Retrospective review from 2013 to 2023 of pregnancies with suspected fetal skeletal dysplasia. Ultrasound evaluation included measurements predictive of a life-limiting dysplasia: thoracic circumference/abdominal circumference (TC/AC) < 0.6, femur length/abdominal circumference (FL/AC) < 0.16, and thoracic circumference (TC) < 2.5th percentile. Demographics, ultrasound findings, genetic testing, and fetal/neonatal outcome were reviewed.

Results: Of 96 fetuses with complete outcome data, 47 (49%) had a non-life-limiting dysplasia and 49 (51%) had a life-limiting dysplasia. 22 (23%) had no life-limiting markers, 42 (44%) had one, 27 (28%) had two, and 5 (5%) had three. FL/AC < 0.16 and TC < 2.5th percentile were associated with life-limiting dysplasia (p < 0.001; p < 0.001), while TC/AC < 0.6 was rare and did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.056). The positive predictive value (PPV) for predicting life-limiting dysplasia increased from 50% to 78% to 100% with one, two, or three markers. The PPV of the two life-limiting markers was significantly higher in those diagnosed at < versus ≥ 28 weeks (90% vs. 43%, p = 0.02) but the analysis was limited by small numbers in the ≥ 28 weeks cohort. The negative predictive value of no life-limiting markers was 91%.

Conclusions: In our cohort, the presence of two life-limiting ultrasound markers prior to 28 weeks was highly suggestive of a life-limiting dysplasia, whereas the absence of life-limiting markers was strongly associated with a non-life-limiting dysplasia throughout gestation. Nonetheless, individual markers had a poor predictive value of lethality, and a life-limiting diagnosis ≥ 28 weeks is challenging based on ultrasound markers alone. This highlights the importance of integrating thorough sonography, genetic testing, and balanced parental counseling.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pd.6638DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

skeletal dysplasia
12
ultrasound markers
8
fetal skeletal
8
reliability ultrasound
4
markers identifying
4
identifying fetuses
4
fetuses life-limiting
4
life-limiting skeletal
4
dysplasia
4
dysplasia objective
4

Similar Publications

Impaired fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling is associated with many human conditions, including growth disorders, degenerative diseases, and cancer. Current FGFR therapeutics are based on chemical inhibitors of FGFR tyrosine kinase activity (TKIs). However, FGFR TKIs are limited in their target specificity as they generally inhibit all FGFRs and other receptor tyrosine kinases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Although the pathogenesis and mechanism of congenital skeletal dysplasia are better understood, progress in drug development and intervention research remains limited. Here we report that melatonin treatment elicits a mitigating effect on skeletal abnormalities caused by deficiency. In addition to our previous finding of endoplasmic reticulum stress upon deficiency, we found calcium (Ca) overload jointly contributed to -associated chondrodysplasias.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Achondroplasia is the most common genetic form of short-limbed skeletal dysplasia (dwarfism). Clinical manifestations and complications can affect individuals across the lifespan, including the need for adaptations for activities of daily living, which can affect quality of life. Current international guidelines focus on symptomatic management, with little discussion regarding potential medication, as therapeutic options were limited at the time of their publication.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hajdu-Cheney syndrome (HCS), caused by a heterozygous gain of function variant of the NOTCH2 gene, is a rare skeletal dysplasia. Although the main presentation is acro-osteolysis, osteoporosis, and facial dysmorphism, having a wide range of clinical manifestations creates diagnostic difficulties. Here, a 15-year-old male patient with HCS who had no complaints until this age except for two short bone fractures and one vertebral collapse fracture due to a fall was reported.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Wolcott-Rallison Syndrome is an extremely rare syndrome characterized by infantile non-autoimmune diabetes, extensive skeletal dysplasia, and multi-organ failure requiring transplant. Prognosis is very poor, and as such, surgical intervention for symptomatic cervical spine compromise in pediatric patients has not been widely reported in part due to their high fragility. We report a complex case of Wolcott-Rallison Syndrome that presented with cervical myelopathy due to cervicomedullary compression and the exceptional surgical considerations required for successful intervention.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!