OBJECTIVE:

To determine the value of early ultrasound examination for prenatal diagnosis of cardiac defects in chromosomally normal fetuses with increased nuchal translucency thickness at 10-14 weeks of gestation.

DESIGN:

Prospective audit.

SETTING:

Fetal Medicine Centre.

METHODS:

Specialist fetal echocardiography was carried out in 398 chromosomally normal fetuses with a nuchal translucency measurement above the 99th centile (> or = 3.5 mm). In the first 75 pregnancies the cardiac scan was carried out at 17-22 weeks and the next 323 cases had one scan at 13-17 weeks and another at 20-22 weeks. Pregnancy outcome was obtained in all of the cases.

RESULTS:

Major cardiac defects were present in 29 (7.3% of 398) cases and in 28 of these the diagnosis was made by antenatal echocardiography. In 27 of the 29 fetuses with major cardiac defects echocardiography was carried out at 13-17 weeks and an abnormality was suspected in 24 of the cases (88%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Increased nuchal translucency in chromosomally normal fetuses is associated with an increased prevalence of major cardiac defects and, as such, is an indication for specialist fetal echocardiography. Most of the cardiac abnormalities are detectable on antenatal fetal echocardiography and many can be excluded by early scanning.