Gender-Specific Patterns of Second Trimester Femur and Humerus Measurements in Fetuses with Down's Syndrome

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine if there are gender-specific patterns of second trimester femur and humerus measurements in fetuses with Down's syndrome. Ultrasound reports at the time of second trimester genetic amniocentesis from 38 fetuses with Down's syndrome were grouped by gender. Male and female measured values for humerus length (HL) vs. biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL) vs. BPD, BPD/FL vs. gestational age (GA), and BPD/HL vs. GA were compared to percentiles for normal fetuses at the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center. The FL, HL, and BPD were also evaluated according to GA. Gender comparisons were made using test of proportions. Significant differences between males and females were found for FL vs. BPD (P = 0.04 at ≤50th percentile), HL vs. BPD (P = 0.04 at ≤50th percentile), BPD/HL vs. GA (P = 0.05 at ≤50th percentile), and BPD vs. GA (P = 0.04 at ≤50th percentile). Both the FL vs. BPD and the HL vs. BPD in Down's syndrome fetuse...