The first trimester combined test for aneuploidies – a single center experience

Abstract

Purpose: We present the results of the systematic application of the first trimester combined test for aneuploidies, in a Romanian center.Methods: Since October 2009, in Filantropia Hospital in Bucharest, we have systematically been using the FMF (Fetal Medicine Foundation) combined first trimester test to screen for common aneuploidies at 11 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation. We assessed the crown to rump length (CRL), nuchal translucency, fetal heart rate as well as PAPP-A, and free β-hCG in maternal serum. We evaluated additional first trimester ultrasound markers in most of the cases. The individual risk for aneuploidies was calculated using the FMF algorithm.Results: Pregnancy outcome is known for 6030 euploid fetuses and 42 aneuploid fetuses from our screening population. The detection rate for trisomy 21 of the combined test was 87.5% for a screen positive rate of 1.96%. All of the trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 cases were detected prenatally. Some of the trisomy 18 cases proved not to be symptomatic in the first trimester.Conclusions: Our results are similar to those of the main studies on the FMF method of first trimester screening for aneuploidies. Our numbers are small because of limited availability of the very specialized resources involved.