Prenatal Risk Calculation (PRC) 3.0: An Extended DoE-Based First-Trimester Screening Algorithm Allowing For Early Blood Sampling

Aim: Both previous versions of the German PRC algorithm developed by our group for routine first-trimester screening relied on the assumption that maternal blood sampling and fetal ultrasonography are performed at the same visit of a pregnant women. In this paper we present an extension of our method allowing also for constellations where this synchronization is abandoned through preponing blood sampling to dates before 11 weeks of gestation. Methods: In contrast to the directly measured concentrations of the serum parameters PAPP-A and free ß-hCG, the logarithmically transformed values could be shown to admit the construction of reference bands covering the whole range from 16 to 84 mm CRL…

Serial measurements of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) in healthy newborns and in newborns with perinatal infection.

Detection of hearing impairment in early childhood is difficult. We serially recorded transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) to search for signs of ototoxicity in term, healthy newborns and compared the results to a second group of term babies treated for perinatally acquired bacterial infection with ampicillin plus either cefotaxime or plus aminoglycoside. At initial evaluation, in the group of 45 healthy children born at term, well reproducible emissions were observed in all but two children. In each of these two, initially well reproducible TEOAEs were detected in one ear only. At the time of the second recording (mean at day 8.5) excellent emissions were seen in all ears of all…

OP07.07: First trimester screening: comparison of different risk calculation programs in 115,864 patients

3-D ultrasound in prenatal diagnosis

Abstract 2-D ultrasonography has evolved into an excellent technique in prenatal diagnosis during the past 40 years. The fact remains, however, that 2-D ultrasonography is marked by a lack of ability to provide more than a 2-D demonstration of a 3-D fetus. Although many fetal anomalies are detectable by conventional 2-D ultrasound, it is impossible to demonstrate a defect in the third dimension. 3-D sonography not only offers the third plane, but it also provides the examiner with different viewing modes: the multiplanar, the surface and the transparent demonstration of the fetus. The different viewing modes not only improve the accuracy in detecting fetal malformations, but also serve to d…