What Percentage of Serious Heart Defects are Identified as the Result of an Increased Nuchal Translucency?
In 2005 Makrydimas et al published their results from a pooled database in which the nuchal translucency was measured during the first-trimester in 637 fetuses with congenital heart defects. The fetuses were divided into two groups; those with abnormal chromosomes and those with normal chromosomes. When the nuchal translucency was 3.5 mm or greater, 59% of fetuses with heart defects and abnormal chromosomes were identified. Similarly, of fetuses with normal chromosomes, 23% with heart defects were identified because of an increased nuchal translucency measurement.
