Prenatal sonographic findings in a cohort of foetuses with a confirmed 22q11.2 microdeletion at a single Chinese Tertiary Centre

Abstract

The aim of this study was to present prenatal ultrasound findings, molecular testing results and pregnancy outcomes of cases with 22q11.2 deletion (del22q11.2) diagnosed prenatally. A total of 76 foetuses were included. All cases were diagnosed by using chromosomal microarray analysis. Data on prenatal diagnosis, ultrasound findings, pregnancy outcomes and inheritance of del22q11.2 were reviewed. Congenital heart defects (CHDs) were the most common indications (47/76, 61.8%) for prenatal testing and were isolated in 52.6% (40/76). The constitution of CHDs comprised predominantly of conotruncal defects (61.7%; 29/47). Other cardiac anomalies were encountered in 38.3% (18/47) of cases. Extracardiac findings, including unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney, clubfoot, increased nuchal translucency, intrauterine growth retardation and polyhydramnios, were found in 31.6% (24/76) of cases, and were combined with CHDs in 7 cases. Twelve cases had normal sonographic scans at the time of prenatal diagnosis. Foetal CHDs, especially conotruncal defects, are the most predictive association with del22q11.2. The information about del22q11.2 should also be part of the contents in comprehensive pre-test counselling even for those who are referred for diagnostic testing with foetal extracardiac findings.

Impact statement

• What is already known on this subject? 22q11.2 deletion (del22q11.2) is the most common microdeletion syndrome in humans. At present, the main indications for prenatal testing for del22q11.2 are pregnancies of abnormal sonographic findings, especially foetal congenital heart defects.

• What do the results of this study add? Many extracardiac malformations, including some lethal or mildly non-specific ones, could be associated with foetal del22q11.2. There were also del22q11.2 foetuses had normal sonographic scans at the time of prenatal diagnosis.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The information about del22q11.2 should also be part of the contents in comprehensive pre-test counselling even for those who are referred for diagnostic testing with indications other than foetal cardiac anomalies.

Keywords:

• 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome
• prenatal diagnosis
• congenital heart defects
• extracardiac anomalies
• polyhydramnios
• chromosomal microarray

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).