Objective: To provide a Canadian consensus document with recommendations on prenatal screening for and diagnosis of fetal aneuploidy (e .g ., Down syndrome and trisomy 18) in twin pregnancies . Options: The process of prenatal screening and diagnosis in twin pregnancies is complex . This document reviews the options available to pregnant women and the challenges specific to screening and diagno...

BACKGROUND Despite three decades of prenatal screening for congenital toxoplasmosis in some European countries, uncertainty remains about the effectiveness of prenatal treatment. METHODS We did a systematic review of cohort studies based on universal screening for congenital toxoplasmosis. We did a meta-analysis using individual patients' data to assess the effect of timing and type of prenat...

BACKGROUND Prenatal screening tests for Down syndrome (DS) are routine in many developed countries and new tests are rapidly becoming available. Decisions about prenatal screening are increasingly complex with each successive test, and pregnant women need information about risks and benefits as well as clarity about their values. Decision aids (DAs) can help healthcare providers support women i...

The frequency of inherited malformations as well as genetic disorders in newborns account for around 3-5%. These frequency is much higher in early stages of pregnancy, because serious malformations and genetic disorders usually lead to spontaneous abortion. Prenatal diagnosis allowed identification of malformations and/or some genetic syndromes in fetuses during the first trimester of pregnancy...

OBJECTIVE Prenatal ultrasound exams have become increasingly frequent. Although no serious adverse effects are known, the public health implications would be enormous should adverse effects on auditory development be shown. This study looks to establish a possible correlation between hearing loss and increased prenatal ultrasound exposure. DESIGN Retrospective cohort analysis. SETTING Terti...

etal malposition due to persistent hyperextension of the lumbar spine (hyperlordosis) has only very rarely been reported.1 A literature research (key words: hyperlordosis, hyperextension, lumbar spine, opisthotonus, and prenatal) revealed only 1 published case with prenatal diagnosis.2 We describe a case detected by routine prenatal screening, review the literature, and discuss possible etiolog...

Objectives: To study the seroprevalenc of hepatitis surface antigen (HbsAg) among pregnant women attending their first prenatal examination and the value of the current policy of universal screening of pregnant women for hepatitis virus infection (HBV) among our local population. Setting: King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A retrospective analysis of routine pre...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the performance and cost efficacy of different first-trimester contingent screening strategies based on an initial analysis of biochemical markers. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING Swedish National Quality Register for prenatal diagnosis. POPULATION 35,780 women with singleton pregnancies. METHODS Serum values from first trimester biochemistry were re-analyzed i...

According to new studies, even low levels of prenatal alcohol exposure can negatively affect the developing fetus, thereby increasing the importance of identifying women who drink during pregnancy. In response, researchers have developed several simple alcohol-screening instruments for use with pregnant women. These instruments, which can be administered quickly and easily, have been evaluated ...

According to new studies, even low levels of prenatal alcohol exposure can negatively affect the developing fetus, thereby increasing the importance of identifying women who drink during pregnancy. In response, researchers have developed several simple alcohol-screening instruments for use with pregnant women. These instruments, which can be administered quickly and easily, have been evaluated ...