First-trimester screening for chromosomal abnormalities by integrated application of nuchal translucency, nasal bone, tricuspid regurgitation and ductus venosus flow combined with maternal serum free β-hCG and PAPP-A: a 5-year prospective study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the performance of first-trimester screening for chromosomal abnormalities by integrated application of nuchal translucency thickness (NT), nasal bone (NB), tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and ductus venosus (DV) flow combined with maternal serum free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (fβ-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) at a one-stop clinic for assessment of risk (OSCAR).

METHODS

In total, 13,706 fetuses in 13,437 pregnancies were screened for chromosomal abnormalities during a period of 5 years. Maternal serum biochemical markers and maternal age were evaluated in combination with NT, NT + NB, NT + NB + TR, and NT + NB + TR + DV flow data in 8581, 242, 236 and 4647 fetuses, respectively.

RESULTS

In total, 51 chromosomal abnormalities were identified in the study population, including 33 cases of trisomy 21, eight of trisomy 18, six of sex chromosome abnormality, one of triploidy and three of other unbalanced abnormalities. The detection rate and false-positive rate (FPR) for trisomy 21 were 93.8% and 4.84%, respectively, using biochemical markers and NT, and 100% and 3.4%, respectively, using biochemical markers, NT, NB, TR and DV flow.

CONCLUSION

While risk assessment using combined biochemical markers and NT measurement has an acceptable screening performance, it can be improved by the integrated evaluation of secondary ultrasound markers of NB, TR and DV flow. This enhanced approach would decrease the FPR from 4.8 % to 3.4 %, leading to a lower number of unnecessary invasive diagnostic tests and subsequent complications, while maintaining the maximum level of detection rate. Pre- and post-test genetic counseling is of paramount importance in either approach.