Nuchal fold nomogram and relationship with heart and central nervous system anomalies

Abstract

Introduction: Nuchal fold thickness is the first trimester continuation of nuchal translucency in the second trimester. Thick nuchal fold is important in relation to some systemic diseases, including abnormal karyotype fetus.Material-Method: This is a cross-sectional retrospective study that has been performed among 1625 singleton pregnant women with gestational ages between 16-24 weeks that has taken place in Kocaeli Medical Park Hospital from years 2011-2017. We calculated nuchal fold lenght %5, %50, %95 percentile per week and draw nuchal fold nomogram. Results: It has been shown that there is a weak positive correlation between nuchal fold thickness and the gestational week (p: 0,001, r:0,18). In 1625 analysed patients, 50 patients had cardiovascular system (CVS) diseases and 32 patients had central nervous system (CNS) diseases. There was not a statistically significant relationship between nuchal fold thickness and CVS diseases (p= 0.98 and p<0.05). No statistically significant relationship was found between nuchal fold thickness and CNS diseases (p=0.55 and p<0.05).Conclusion: The increased nuchal fold thickness in fetuses with normal karyotype does not increase with fetal heart and central nervous system diseases