ABSTRACT
A prospective study was conducted for comparing the incidence of fetal bradycardia and level of fetal heart rate change following a second-trimester genetic amniocentesis with and without placental injury. A total of 257 and 495 participants in injured and non-injured groups were analysed. The incidence of fetal bradycardia following amniocentesis was not statistically different between the two groups (1.17%, [95% CI 0.24, 3.37] and 0.20%, [95% CI 0.005, 1.12]) in injured and non-injured placenta groups, respectively; p = 0.118). The mean change in baseline fetal heart rate before and after amniocentesis was also not significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.844). No fetal death or pregnancy loss occurred within 4 weeks after the procedure. All 4 bradycardia participants were normal and healthy and had an appropriate weight for their gestational age. We conclude that placental injury during a second-trimester genetic amniocentesis due to advanced maternal age poses only a low risk of fetal bradycardia, and there is no evidence of differences between subjects with injured and non-injured placenta in the changes in fetal heart rate.
Subject(s)
Amniocentesis/adverse effects , Bradycardia/epidemiology , Fetal Diseases/epidemiology , Heart Rate, Fetal , Placenta/injuries , Adult , Bradycardia/embryology , Bradycardia/etiology , Female , Fetal Diseases/etiology , Gestational Age , Humans , Incidence , Maternal Age , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, Second , Prospective Studies , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Frontomaxillary facial (FMF) angle is the angle between upper part of the anterior end of the maxillary bone and the line along the frontal bone in the midfacial profile view. Based on several previous studies, FMF angle can be useful in screening Down syndrome foetuses, in which FMF angle is significantly larger than that in euploid foetuses. However, racial factors can influence the FMF angle as seen in the different normal ranges among ethnicities. Therefore, before the clinical application of the FMF angle, a reference range for its own population should firstly be developed. In this study, a Thai reference range of FMF angle has been established. The mean FMF angle in euploid foetuses with a 60-mm crown rump length (CRL) was 81.07 °, with 0.23 ° increase for each mm increase in CRL, consistent with those observed in Caucasian and Chinese populations. The measurement of FMF angle has good reproducibility.
Subject(s)
Asian People , Face/anatomy & histology , Face/diagnostic imaging , Nuchal Translucency Measurement , Adolescent , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Crown-Rump Length , Female , Gestational Age , Humans , Ploidies , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, First , Reference Values , Reproducibility of Results , Thailand , Young AdultABSTRACT
AIM: The purpose of this study was to establish a Thai reference for normal fetal nasal bone length (NBL) at 11-13(+6) weeks gestation. METHODS: The fetal nasal bone was measured by sonography in pregnant women at 11-13(+6) weeks gestation. All neonates who showed normal karyotypes were examined after delivery to confirm the absence of congenital abnormalities. RESULTS: A total of 255 pregnant women were recruited. Forty-seven pregnant women were excluded from the analysis because of technically unsatisfactory examination or absent nasal bone and chromosomal abnormalities. The mean ± SD of NBL was 1.79 ± 0.33 mm and increased significantly with crown-rump length (CRL) and gestational age (p < 0.001). The best-fit equation for NBL in euploid fetuses in relation to CRL was: NBL (mm) = (0.030 × CRL (mm)) - 0.016. CONCLUSION: NBL in Thai fetuses at 11-13(+6) weeks was found to be on average shorter than that in Caucasian, African-American and Chinese populations, but similar to those reported in Korean and Latin-American populations.
