Increased nuchal translucency as a prenatal manifestation of congenital adrenal hyperplasia

We present two cases of pregnant women with a previous history of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. In both cases the only abnormal feature in the initial pregnancy had been increased nuchal translucency at 10–14 weeks of gestation. The fetal karyotype was normal and a diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia was made after delivery. In their current pregnancies, both fetuses also had increased nuchal translucency and normal fetal karyotype. Diagnosis of 21‐hydroxylase deficiency was made prenatally by DNA analysis. These findings in four affected fetuses suggest that congenital adrenal hyperplasia should be added to the list of genetic anomalies associated with an increase in nuchal translucency. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[1]  L. Chitty,et al.  Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome presenting with persisting nuchal oedema and non‐immune hydrops , 1999, Prenatal diagnosis.

[2]  N. Montenegro,et al.  Screening for chromosomal abnormalities at 10–14 weeks: the role of ductus venosus blood flow , 1998, Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

[3]  K. Nicolaides,et al.  UK multicentre project on assessment of risk of trisomy 21 by maternal age and fetal nuchal-translucency thickness at 10–14 weeks of gestation , 1998, The Lancet.

[4]  R. Snijders,et al.  Defects and syndromes in chromosomally normal fetuses with increased nuchal translucency thickness at 10–14 weeks of gestation , 1998, Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

[5]  E. Jauniaux Diagnosis and management of early non‐immune hydrops fetalis , 1997, Prenatal diagnosis.

[6]  E. Haan,et al.  FIRST‐TRIMESTER DIAGNOSIS OF SMITH–LEMLI–OPITZ SYNDROME , 1997, Prenatal diagnosis.

[7]  K. Nicolaides,et al.  Abnormalities of the heart and great arteries in first trimester chromosomally abnormal fetuses. , 1997, American journal of medical genetics.

[8]  A. Lin,et al.  Cardiovascular malformations in Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome. , 1997, American journal of medical genetics.

[9]  F. Barany,et al.  Identification of non-amplifying CYP21 genes when using PCR-based diagnosis of 21-hydroxylase deficiency in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) affected pedigrees. , 1996, Human molecular genetics.

[10]  K. Nicolaides,et al.  Abnormalities of the heart and great arteries in chromosomally normal fetuses with increased nuchal translucency thickness at 1l–13 weeks of gestation , 1996, Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

[11]  K. Nicolaides,et al.  Increased first trimester nuchal translucency as a prenatal manifestation of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome. , 1995, American journal of medical genetics.

[12]  M. New,et al.  Rapid deoxyribonucleic acid analysis by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction for detection of mutations in the steroid 21-hydroxylase gene. , 1995, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[13]  J. Hobbins,et al.  Transvaginal ultrasonography and transabdominal embryoscopy in the first-trimester diagnosis of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, type II. , 1994, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[14]  J. Mandell,et al.  Masculinization of female fetuses with congenital adrenal hyperplasia may already be present at 18 weeks. , 1994, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

[15]  M. Forest,et al.  Prenatal diagnosis and treatment of 21-hydroxylase deficiency , 1993, The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

[16]  K. Fujieda,et al.  Worldwide experience in newborn screening for classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. , 1988, Pediatrics.

[17]  I. Hughes,et al.  Early diagnosis of salt-losing congenital adrenal hyperplasia in a newborn boy. , 1977, Canadian Medical Association journal.