Down Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Down Syndrome, including details on education, symptoms, treatment, information.

The use of nuchal translucency in contemporary obstetric practice.

Said S, Malone FD

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Rotunda Hospital, Parnell Square, Dublin 1, Republic of Ireland.

Nuchal translucency sonography is the most powerful single prenatal marker for Down syndrome. Its detection rate is 75% at a 5% false-positive rate. The combination of nuchal translucency and maternal serum-free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A can identify 85% to 90% of fetuses with Down syndrome for a false-positive rate of 5%. This method can also identify more than 90% of fetuses with trisomies 18 and 13, Turner syndrome, and triploidy for a screen-positive rate of 1%.

Published 27 February 2008 in Clin Obstet Gynecol, 51(1): 37-47.
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