What would be missed in the first trimester if nuchal translucency measurement is replaced by cell free DNA foetal aneuploidy screening?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate which chromosomal abnormalities in our cohort of foetuses with increased nuchal translucency (NT) in the first trimester of pregnancy could be detected by cell free (cf)DNA screening as well. There were 775 singleton pregnancies referred for cytogenetic testing due to an increased NT (≥3.0 mm). Chromosome aberrations were investigated using karyotyping or chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA). Karyotyping had been chosen for foetal cytogenetic testing by 446 patients, and CMA by 329 patients. Common aneuploidies (trisomies 21, 18, 13 and sex aneuploidies) were detected in 2.2% (99/446) and 1.8% (59/329) cases, respectively. In 329 with CMA testing, clinically significant copy number variations (CNVs) other than common aneuploidies were detected in 2.7% cases; among these, five had a pathogenic microscopic CNV, which could have been detected by karyotyping. There were four cases (1.2%) having a pathogenic submicroscopic CNV, which could have been missed by karyotyping. The total CMA detection rate (23.4%) was not statistically different from that (24.2%) by karyotyping (p > .05). The percentage of chromosomal aberrations, which cfDNA screening would miss in patients with increased NT in the first trimester, might be the same as in those with normal NT.

Impact statement

• What is already known about this topic? First trimester NT is a powerful marker for screening for common aneuploidies. cfDNA screening is more accurate than any standard screening with NT. The need of NT in the era of prenatal screening using cfDNA is debated.

• What does this study add? An increased NT did not identify any additional aneuploidies that were detected by cfDNA screening.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The percentage of chromosomal aberrations which cfDNA screening would miss in patients with increased NT might be the same as in those with normal NT.

Keywords:

• Nuchal translucency
• chromosomal microarray analysis
• cell free DNA screening
• submicroscopic chromosomal abnormalities
• prenatal diagnosis

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.