Authors:
Sau A. Langford K. Auld B. Maxwell D.
Institution:
D. Maxwell, Fetal Medicine Unit, 15th Floor Guy's Tower, Guy's Hospital,
London SE1 9RT; United Kingdom.
Title:
Screening for trisomy 21: The significance of a positive second trimester serum screen in women screen negative after a nuchal translucency scan (2001-3351).
Source:
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Vol 21(2) (pp45-148), 2001.
Abstract:
Screening of pregnancies for trisomy 21 is now an accepted part of antenatal care. Measurement of fetal nuchal translucency in the first trimester and analysis of maternal serum biochemistry in the second trimester are both established methods of screening. The performance characteristics of both tests in an unselected population are well described and the choice of test offered is usually determined by local policy and resources. We present data from a screening programme offering women with a low risk result from nuchal translucency measurement a second trimester serum screen. There were eight cases of trisomy 21 in the 2683 women screened, all of which presented with a high-risk nuchal screen result. Serum screening of 1057 women who screened negative by nuchal translucency gave 46 high-risk results, all of which were, therefore, false positive for trisomy 21. Second trimester biochemistry screening following a negative nuchal translucency screen did not increase the detection of trisomy 21.
Please click on the required question.
- 1 What does the term abortion mean?
- 2 What are the legal criteria that permit doctors to terminate a pregnancy in the UK?
- 3 How could we tell if there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped - e.g. Down Syndrome?
- 3A What is Tay Sachs and should we test for it?
- 4 How prevalent is pregnancy termination?
- 5 Why do unwanted pregnancies occur?
- 6 I think I may be pregnant and I do not want to have a baby now. What should I do?
- 7 Should I terminate my pregnancy for social reasons?
- 8 How can my pregnancy be terminated?
- 9 What does a suction (surgical) termination of pregnancy involve?
- 10 What is a medical abortion?
- 11 What will happen to me if I have a medical abortion?
- 12 How do medical and surgical pregnancy termination compare?
- 13 What are the chances of medical termination failing?
- 14 What are the risks of pregnancy termination?
- 15 Why is there debate about the ethics of pregnancy termination?
- 16 Support Groups.
- 17 Where can I obtain more information?
Thank you for choosing to visit us.
This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.














