Variations in antenatal management and outcomes in haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn: an international, retrospective, observational cohort study.

Background: Advances in haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn have led to numerous treatment options. We report practice variations in the management and outcomes of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn in at-risk pregnancies.

Methods: In this international, retrospective, observational cohort study, data from cases with moderate or severe haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn were retrieved from 31 centres in 22 countries.

Intrapericardial Teratoma and Associated 3q29 Deletion in a Fetus: Case Report.

Depending on its location, size, and proximity to the cardiac structures, an intrapericardial teratoma may lead to severe circulatory disturbances and even fetal demise. A 34-year-old G2P1 presented at 20w5d with a solid cystic mass in the right thorax of the fetus, originating from the right atrium or lung, with signs of non-immune fetal hydrops, soon resulting in intrauterine fetal death. Detailed post-mortem autopsy revealed signs of hydrops fetalis universalis due to a spherical tumor mass originating from the aortic root.

Prenatal Diagnosis, Course and Outcome of Patients with Truncus Arteriosus Communis.

: The objective of our study was to assess the prenatal course, associated anomalies and postnatal outcome and the predictive value of various prenatal parameters for survival in prenatally diagnosed cases of truncus arteriosus communis (TAC). : We evaluated cases from four centers between 2008 and 2021. : In 37/47 cases (78.

Monitoring of Women with Anti-Ro/SSA and Anti-La/SSB Antibodies in Germany-Status Quo and Intensified Monitoring Concepts.

The fetuses of pregnant women affected by anti-Ro/anti-La antibodies are at risk of developing complete atrioventricular heart block (CAVB) and other potentially life-threatening cardiac affections. CAVB can develop in less than 24 h. Treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and immunoglobulins (IVIG) can restore the normal rhythm if applied in the transition period.

Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in fetuses with critical aortic stenosis before and after fetal aortic valvuloplasty.

Background: Critical aortic stenosis (AS) in fetuses may progress to hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with need for postnatal single ventricular (SV) palliation. Fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV) is performed to achieve postnatal biventricular (BV) circulation. However, the impact of FAV on fetal myocardial function is difficult to measure.

Associated Anomalies and Outcome in Patients with Prenatal Diagnosis of Aortic Arch Anomalies as Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery, Right Aortic Arch and Double Aortic Arch.

We aimed to evaluate retrospectively associated anomalies and outcome in prenatal aortic arch anomalies (AAAs). We included ninety patients with aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA), right aortic arch (RAA) with mirror image branching (RAA-mirror) or aberrant left subclavian artery (RAA-ALSA) and double aortic arch (DAA) between 2011 and 2020. In total, 19/90 (21.

Comparison of the Results of Prenatal and Postnatal Echocardiography and Postnatal Cardiac MRI in Children with a Congenital Heart Defect.

Objective: In fetuses with suspicion of congenital heart disease (CHD), assessment by segmental fetal echocardiography is of great importance. This study sought to examine the concordance of expert fetal echocardiography and postnatal MRI of the heart at a high-volume paediatric heart centre.

Methods: The data of two hundred forty-two fetuses have been gathered under the condition of full pre- and postnatal and the presence of a pre- and postnatal diagnosis of CHD.

Ectopia cordis: prenatal diagnosis, perinatal outcomes, and postnatal follow-up of an international multicenter cohort case series.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze prenatal diagnosis, perinatal outcomes, and postnatal follow-up in fetuses with ectopia cordis (EC).

Methods: This retrospective analysis accessed 31 patients with EC who were either diagnosed or referred to a tertiary Fetal Medicine centers for EC diagnosis in Brazil, Germany, Italy, and Poland. We analyzed prenatal diagnosis, perinatal outcomes, and follow-up in these patients.

Evaluation of right ventricular myocardial deformation properties in fetal hypoplastic left heart by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Purpose: Right ventricular (RV) function influences the outcome of hypoplastic left heart (HLH) patients. This study aimed to confirm the assumption of prenatal RV remodeling and possible influencing factors of myocardial restructuring using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE).

Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study including HLH fetuses and gestational age-matched controls.

Multicenter clinical experience with non-invasive cell-free DNA screening for monosomy X and related X-chromosome variants.

Objective: We aimed to investigate how the presence of fetal anomalies and different X chromosome variants influences Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening results for monosomy X.

Methods: From a multicenter retrospective survey on 673 pregnancies with prenatally suspected or confirmed Turner syndrome, we analyzed the subgroup for which prenatal cfDNA screening and karyotype results were available. A cfDNA screening result was defined as true positive (TP) when confirmatory testing showed 45,X or an X-chromosome variant.

Turner syndrome-omphalocele association: Incidence, karyotype, phenotype and fetal outcome.

Objective: Omphalocele is known to be associated with genetic anomalies like trisomy 13, 18 and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, but not with Turner syndrome (TS). Our aim was to assess the incidence of omphalocele in fetuses with TS, the phenotype of this association with other anomalies, their karyotype, and the fetal outcomes.

Method: Retrospective multicenter study of fetuses with confirmed diagnosis of TS.

The Value of Delta Middle Cerebral Artery Peak Systolic Velocity for the Prediction of Twin Anemia-Polycythemia Sequence-Analysis of a Heterogenous Cohort of Monochorionic Twins.

Introduction: Twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS) is a complication in monochorionic-diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies. This study analyzes whether the prenatal diagnosis using delta middle cerebral artery-peak systolic velocity (MCA-PSV) > 0.5 multiples of the median (MoM) (delta group) detects more TAPS cases than the guideline-based diagnosis using the MCA-PSV cut off levels of >1.

The Evolution and Developing Importance of Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis of Congenital Cardiac Anomalies: A Systematic Review.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a reliable method, with a complementary role to Ultrasound (US) Echocardiography, that can be used to fully comprehend and precisely diagnose congenital cardiac malformations. Besides the anatomical study of the fetal cardiovascular system, it allows us to study the function of the fetal heart, remaining, at the same time, a safe adjunct to the classic fetal echocardiography. MRI also allows for the investigation of cardiac and placental diseases by providing information about hematocrit, oxygen saturation, and blood flow in fetal vessels.

Is Fetal Hydrops in Turner Syndrome a Risk Factor for the Development of Maternal Mirror Syndrome?

Mirror syndrome is a rare and serious maternal condition associated with immune and non-immune fetal hydrops after 16 weeks of gestational age. Subjacent conditions associated with fetal hydrops may carry different risks for Mirror syndrome. Fetuses with Turner syndrome are frequently found to be hydropic on ultrasound.

Analysis of the Results of Sonographic Screening Examinations According to the Maternity Guidelines Before and After the Introduction of the Extended Basic Screening (IIb Screening) in Hesse.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of the study is to examine the detection rates of malformations before and after the introduction of extended basic screening in Hesse by the Federal Joint Committee (Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss, GQH) on July 1, 2013.

Method: This is a retrospective, mainly exploratory data analysis of quality assurance data from the Office for Quality Assurance in Hesse (GQH). The data was collected in the period from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2016 in the obstetric departments of the Hessian hospitals using documentation forms.

Fetal Echocardiography in Predicting Postnatal Outcome in Borderline Left Ventricle.

Objectives:  Prenatal prediction of postnatal univentricular versus biventricular circulation in patients with borderline left ventricle (bLV) remains challenging. This study investigated prenatal fetal echocardiographic parameters and postnatal outcome of patients with a prenatally diagnosed bLV.

Methods:  We report a retrospective study of bLV patients at four prenatal centers with a follow-up of one year.

Chances and Challenges of New Genetic Screening Technologies (NIPT) in Prenatal Medicine from a Clinical Perspective: A Narrative Review.

In 1959, 63 years after the death of John Langdon Down, Jérôme Lejeune discovered trisomy 21 as the genetic reason for Down syndrome. Screening for Down syndrome has been applied since the 1960s by using maternal age as the risk parameter. Since then, several advances have been made.

Natural history of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PAIVS) and critical pulmonary stenosis (CPS) and prediction of outcome.

Objectives: To analyse prenatal parameters predicting biventricular (BV) outcome in pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum/critical pulmonary stenosis (PAIVS/CPS).

Methods: We evaluated 82 foetuses from 01/08 to 10/18 in 3 centres in intervals 1 (< 24 weeks), 2 (24-30 weeks) and 3 (> 30 weeks).

Results: 61/82 (74.

Prenatal Diagnosis and Postnatal Outcome of Eight Cases with Criss-Cross Heart - A Multicenter Case Series.

Objective:  Criss-cross heart (CCH) is a rare congenital cardiac defect defined by crossing of ventricular inflow streams contributing to less than 0.1 % of all congenital heart anomalies. Due to its rarity and complexity, prenatal diagnosis in these patients remains challenging.

Atrial and Ventricular Deformation Analysis in Normal Fetal Hearts Using Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography.

Objective: Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE)-based strain values of the left and the right ventricle have been established; however, less is known about atrial deformation. The aim of our study was to assess both atrial strain and ventricular strain using 2D-STE in a cardiac 4-chamber view and to investigate the effect of possible influencing factors such as gestational age.

Methods: Fetal echocardiography was performed on a Toshiba Aplio 500 ultrasound system.

Prenatal Diagnosis and Outcome of Congenital Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries - A Multicenter Report of 69 Cases.

Objective:  Congenital corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly which remains difficult to diagnose prenatally. We aim to investigate the natural history, associated anomalies and the outcome of patients in prenatally diagnosed ccTGA.

Method:  This was an international multicenter retrospective analysis of fetuses with a diagnosis of ccTGA from 2002 to 2017.

Cerebroplacental and Uterine Doppler Indices in Pregnancies Complicated by Congenital Heart Disease of the Fetus.

Purpose:  Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are known to have impaired neurodevelopment possibly influenced by altered cerebroplacental hemodynamics antenatally. We compared fetomaternal Doppler patterns in different CHD groups with published normative values during gestation.

Materials And Methods:  Retrospective cohort study consisting of 248 CHD fetuses.

Myocardial function in fetuses with lower urinary tract obstruction: Is there a cardiac remodeling effect due to renal damage?

Objectives: Cardiac remodeling due to renal dysfunction may have an impact on myocardial function (MF) of fetuses with lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO). The aim was to identify possible differences in MF in LUTO fetuses compared with healthy controls and to look for interactions between urine biochemistry and MF indices.

Methods: This is a cohort study consisting of 31 LUTO fetuses and 45 healthy controls.

Wall motion tracking in fetal echocardiography-Application of low and high frame rates for strain analysis.

Objective: Compared to adults, fetal heart rates (HR) are elevated necessitating higher frame rates (FR) for strain analysis by speckle tracking echocardiography. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of high FR compared to low FR on strain analysis in 2D speckle tracking.

Methods: Fetal echocardiography was prospectively performed and acquired from the apical or basal four-chamber views of the heart.