Antenatal Screening Flashcards

1
Q

What is the antenatal care schedule (8-10 routine appointments)?

A

1) Booking appointment
2) 16 weeks
3) 18-20 weeks
4) 28 weeks
5) (31 weeks if nulliparous +) 34 weeks
6) 34 weeks
7) 36 weeks
8) 38 weeks
9) (40 weeks if nulliparous +) 41 weeks if not gone into labour

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2
Q

What are the two scans to screen for fetal anomalies?

A

1) 12 weeks (11-13) - blood test and early pregnancy US

2) 18-20 weeks - detailed US for fetal anomalies and screening, internal structures checked in a lot of detail

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3
Q

What haematological conditions are screened for in pregnancy?

A

1) Anaemia

2) Haemoglobinopathies e.g. sickle cell anaemia, thalassaemia esp. in at risk individuals

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4
Q

What infectious diseases are screened for in pregnancy?

A

1) Syphilis
2) Hep B
3) HIV
4) Rubella susceptibility

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5
Q

When should you offer gestational diabetes screening to a woman?

A

1) BMI > 30
2) Previous macrosomic baby weighing ≥ 4.5kg
3) Previous gestational diabetes
4) FH of diabetes (first degree relative)
5) Family origin with high prevalence of diabetes e.g. South Asian, Black Caribbean, Middle Eastern

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6
Q

Screening for which genetic conditions is offered to all women?

A

1) Down’s syndrome (T21)
2) Edward’s syndrome (T18)
3) Patau syndrome (T13)

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7
Q

When is trisomy screening done?

A
  • The combined test in the first trimester from 10-14 weeks

- Can also be performed in the second trimester

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8
Q

Describe the features of the trisomy screening tests

A
  • Can choose to have screening for all conditions, T21 only, T18 and T13 only or no screening
  • One risk result generated for T21 and another one for T18+T13
  • It assess the risk of the fetus having these conditions and cannot establish the presence or absence of these conditions
  • i.e. higher risk result does not mean fetus has condition and lower risk result does not exclude the possibility
  • Informed consent is importnat
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9
Q

What are the aspects of the risk determinants in the combined test for the trisomies?

A

1) Maternal age
2) Measurement of nuchal translucency (12 week scan)
3) Gestational age from the length of the fetus (CRL length)
4) The level of PAPP-A and free beta-hCG (hormones) in maternal blood

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10
Q

How good is the detection rate of T21 in the combined test?

A

85-90% detection rate with ~3% false positive

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11
Q

What do maternal PAPP-A and free beta-hCG levels and nuchal translucency as part of the combined test indicate?

A

1) PAPP-A is decreased in all 3 trisomies esp. T13 and T18
2) Free beta-hCG is increased in T21 and decreased in T13 and T18 (more decreased in T18)
3) Nuchal translucency > 4mm - increased in all trisomies esp. T21 and T18 (also in Turner syndrome)

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12
Q

Explain how results are given and used in the combined test?

A
  • The result is given as a risk score e.g. 1:20 for T21 and 1:300 for T18/13
  • The cut-off for a screen positive/high risk result is ≥ 1:150
  • The cut-off for a screen negative/low risk result is < 1:150
  • Patients given a positive screening result are offered either an invasive test (CVS/amniocentesis) or non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) privately
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13
Q

Which trisomy does the quadruple test screen for?

A

T21

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14
Q

Describe the quadruple test used for screening

A
  • 14-22 weeks
  • Measures AFP, hCG, unconjugated estriol (uE3) and inhibin A
  • T21 detection rate = 80% (FP rate = 3%)
  • Can also detect spina bifida
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15
Q

What do AFP and hCG stand for?

A
AFP = alpha fetoprotein 
hCG = human chorionic gonadotropin
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16
Q

What would you see on the 20 week anomaly scan in trisomy fetuses?

A
  • ~ 50% of fetuses with T21 will have features on US

- All fetuses with T18 or T13 would be expected to have abnormal features detected on US

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17
Q

What % of fetuses with Down’s syndrome will not be detected by screening?

A

10-20%

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18
Q

Who is offered screening for chromosomal abnormalities?

A

All pregnant women

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19
Q

What is nuchal translucency?

A
  • Fluid level at the back of the neck
  • Normal range is 1-2mm (>2.5mm is abnormal)
  • Down’s syndrome will be > 4mm (bigger area of black on US)
  • Risk of adverse outcomes (abnormality or death) increases with NT thickness e.g. ≥ 5.5mm = 80% risk
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20
Q

How are most T13 and T18 babies picked up?

A

On scan as they have structural abnormalities

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21
Q

What is the baseline risk of T21 in a 20 year old vs 40 year old?

A

1:1000 vs 1:100

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22
Q

Who gets screened for sickle cell and thalassaemia?

A
  • High incidence = all pregnant women

- Low incidence = based on ethnic origin

23
Q

When does screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia happen?

A

Pre-conception to 10 weeks

24
Q

How is screening performed for sickle cell and thalassaemia?

A

Blood test (haemoglobinopathic)

25
Q

What do you do if the patient screens positive for sickle cell and thalassaemia?

A

1) Offer partner testing - can see if dad is also a carrier like mum
2) Offer prenatal diagnosis - CVS or amniocentesis
3) If fetus is affected - termination or early specialist care

26
Q

Who gets screened (diagnostic) for infectious diseases?

A

Offered to all women

27
Q

What infectious diseases are screened for and what is the purpose of screening?

A
  • Syphilis, Hep B, HIV

- To prevent transfer to the fetus

28
Q

When does screening for infectious diseases happen?

A

At booking

29
Q

How is screening for infectious diseases performed?

A

Serology

30
Q

What happens if the woman tests positive for HIV?

A
  • Maternal treatment
  • High risk antenatal care
  • Prevent transmission to neonate
31
Q

What happens if the woman tests positive for Hep B?

A
  • Changes antenatal care to prevent transmission

- Neonate receives vaccine

32
Q

What happens if the woman tests positive for syphilis?

A

Maternal treatment to prevent congenital syphilis

33
Q

What other condition is screened/risk calculated for in pregnancy?

A

Pre-eclampsia

34
Q

What are high risk factors for pre-eclampsia?

A

1) Hypertensive disease in a previous pregnancy
2) CKD
3) Chronic hypertension
4) Diabetes
5) Autoimmune disease e.g. SLE, APS

35
Q

What are moderate risk factors for pre-eclampsia?

A

1) First pregnancy
2) Age > 40 (every 10 years above 30 years)
3) BMI > 35 (every 10kg above 70kg)
4) Inter-pregnancy interval > 10 years
5) FH of pre-eclampsia
6) Conception by IVF
7) Racial origin - Afro-Caribbean, South Asian

36
Q

Which patients are high risk for pre-eclampsia in need of aspirin at < 16 weeks (reason for screening)?

A

1) Pre-eclampsia in > 2 previous pregnancies
2) Pre-eclampsia at < 34 weeks in previous in previous pregnancy
- Aspirin can help if given early enough (before 16 weeks)

37
Q

What is AFP?

A

A protein made in the liver of a fetus which reaches maternal serum directly across the placenta from amniotic fluid, indirectly from amniotic fluid across the chorion and amnion and uptake by maternal vasculature in uterine decidua

38
Q

How do levels of AFP change in gestation?

A

Lower in 2nd than 3rd trimester

39
Q

How is AFP used to screen for congenital abnormalities

A
  • Used to screen for neural tube defects (NTDs) and T21
  • There is a correlation between maternal serum AFP levels and severity of neural tube defect
  • The higher the AFP at 16 weeks the more severe the NTD i.e. at higher AFP levels anencephaly occurs rather than spina bifida
  • Accurate estimate of gestation at which the sample is obtained is essential for interpretation of the serum marker levels
40
Q

Describe the features of a genetic assessment used to screen for genetic conditions and discussion with the family

A

1) Detailed FH
2) Diagnostic considerations and investigations
3) Risk assessment
4) Counselling
5) Genetic testing (if available and appropriate)
6) Post-test counselling
7) Family screening if appropriate

41
Q

What is NIPT and what does it screen for?

A
  • Non-invasive prenatal testing (screening)
  • Cell-free DNA testing
  • It is aneuploidy screening for T21, 18 and 13 (+ X/Y)
  • Screening test - FPs and FNs possible
  • Not routinely offered on NHS, some centres or private
  • Will be offered to high risk women > 1:150 on serum screening on NHS
42
Q

How does NIPT work?

A
  • Small fragments of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from the placenta enter and are present in the maternal circulation
  • 5-20% of the cfDNA is fetal (placental in origin), 80-95% is maternal
  • Sequence maternal plasma
  • The free fetal DNA in the maternal blood can be isolated and amplified and tested for chromosomal aneuploidies (or extra/missing fetal DNA segments)
  • Calculate the proportion of T21 sequences and compare to reference samples
  • A T21 pregnancy exhibits a higher proportion of chromosome 21 fragments in the maternal circulation
43
Q

When can NIPT be done?

A

10 weeks onwards (10-11 weeks)

44
Q

What are the detection rates of NIPT for the different trisomies?

A
  • > 99% detection rate for T21
  • ~93% detection rate for T18
  • ~80% detection rate for T13
45
Q

What is done when high risk results from NIPT are found?

A

Confirmation fo high risk results by invasive diagnostic testing (CVS or amniocentesis)

46
Q

When is NIPT not recommend?

A

For US abnormal pregnancies - just invasive testing is recommended

47
Q

For who is NIPT mainly used?

A

Couples with anxiety

48
Q

What kind of heart defect may suggest T21 at the 20 week scan and lead to amniocentesis diagnosis?

A

Atrial septal defect

49
Q

Who is offered screening for fetal anomalies?

A

All pregnant women

50
Q

When does screening for fetal anomalies happen?

A
  • Between 18 and 22 weeks

- Earlier detection is becoming more common e.g. at 12 weeks if have more time

51
Q

How is screening for fetal anomalies performed?

A

US - structured review of organ systems

52
Q

Why do detection rates of fetal anomalies vary?

A

1) Vary by exact disease and gestation
2) Skill and training of sonographer
3) Quality of US machine
4) Maternal BMI

53
Q

What is the benefit of NIPT?

A

Avoids an invasive test, trisomies can be detected v early on