Should Prenatal Chromosomal Microarray Analysis Be Offered for Pulmonary Atresia? A Single-Center Retrospective Study in China.

Abstract

(1) Objective: To evaluate the application of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) in fetuses with pulmonary atresia (PA) and to explore the risk factors for predicting chromosomal imbalances and adverse perinatal outcomes. (2) Methods: This study investigated 428 cases of PA singleton pregnancies that were tested using CMA and quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) as first-line genetic testing. The PA cases were divided into two groups: an isolated group and a non-isolated group. (3) Results: CMA revealed clinically relevant copy number variations (CNVs) in 9/139 (6.47%) PA fetuses, i.e., pathogenic copy number variations (pCNVs) in 8/139 (5.76%) fetuses and likely pathogenic CNVs in 1/139 (0.72%) fetuses. Stratified analysis showed that the incidence of clinically significant variants was higher in non-isolated PA fetuses than in isolated PA fetuses (12.50%, 6/48 vs. 3.30%, 3/91, p = 0.036). Regression analysis showed that a combination of other structural abnormalities at diagnosis of PA represented the principal risk factor for chromosomal imbalances (OR = 2.672). A combination of other structural abnormalities and a high maternal age increased the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in PA cases, including intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), termination of pregnancy (TOP), and preterm delivery. (4) Conclusions: The value of CMA for locating imbalanced genetic variations in fetuses with PA was highlighted by this study, particularly when combined with additional structural abnormalities.