Antenatal Screening Flashcards
What is the antenatal care schedule (8-10 routine appointments)?
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
What are the two scans to screen for fetal anomalies?
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
What haematological conditions are screened for in pregnancy?
1) Anaemia
2) Haemoglobinopathies e.g. sickle cell anaemia, thalassaemia esp. in at risk individuals
What infectious diseases are screened for in pregnancy?
1) Syphilis
2) Hep B
3) HIV
4) Rubella susceptibility
When should you offer gestational diabetes screening to a woman?
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
Screening for which genetic conditions is offered to all women?
1) Down’s syndrome (T21)
2) Edward’s syndrome (T18)
3) Patau syndrome (T13)
When is trisomy screening done?
- The combined test in the first trimester from 10-14 weeks
- Can also be performed in the second trimester
Describe the features of the trisomy screening tests
- 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
What are the aspects of the risk determinants in the combined test for the trisomies?
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
How good is the detection rate of T21 in the combined test?
85-90% detection rate with ~3% false positive
What do maternal PAPP-A and free beta-hCG levels and nuchal translucency as part of the combined test indicate?
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)
Explain how results are given and used in the combined test?
- 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
Which trisomy does the quadruple test screen for?
T21
Describe the quadruple test used for screening
- 14-22 weeks
- Measures AFP, hCG, unconjugated estriol (uE3) and inhibin A
- T21 detection rate = 80% (FP rate = 3%)
- Can also detect spina bifida
What do AFP and hCG stand for?
AFP = alpha fetoprotein hCG = human chorionic gonadotropin
What would you see on the 20 week anomaly scan in trisomy fetuses?
- ~ 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
What % of fetuses with Down’s syndrome will not be detected by screening?
10-20%
Who is offered screening for chromosomal abnormalities?
All pregnant women
What is nuchal translucency?
- 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
How are most T13 and T18 babies picked up?
On scan as they have structural abnormalities
What is the baseline risk of T21 in a 20 year old vs 40 year old?
1:1000 vs 1:100