Prenatal Care Flashcards
(79 cards)
Tests for trisomy 21 and trisomy 18
- Cf-DNA
- First trimester combined test
- Triple screen
- Quad screen
- Sequential screen
- Integrated serum screen
Cf-DNA aneuploidy screen
Cell-free DNA measurement in maternal circulation, thought to be from apoptotic trophoblastic cells (from trophoblastic invasion of endometrial vessels), earliest ~7 wks gestation
This is a highly sensitive (~99%) and specific (~99.8%) test for trisomy 21.
First trimester combined test
- Combination of nuchal translucency on US plus serum PAPP-A and beta hCG
- Can detect trisomy 18 and 21 w/ lower sensitivity than cf-DNA
- First trimester test
Triple screen
- Second trimester serum AFP, hCG, and unconjugated estriol
- Second trimester AND lower sensitivity than most other tests
Quad screen
- Triple screen + Inhibin A
- Also second trimester
- Improves the sensitivity of the triple screen significantly
Sequential screen
- First trimester nuchal translucency and PAPP-A, PLUS
- Second trimester quad screen
- ~93% detection rate for trisomy 21, but still not as sensitive as cf-DNA
Serum integrated screen
- Essentially sequential screen minus nuchal translucency, for when nuchal translucency cannot be assessed.
Most common heritable intellectual disability
Fragile X
Women who need to continue antiepileptic use through pregnancy should take. . .
. . . supplemental folate.
Possible complications of amniocentesis
- 1% risk of miscarriage (higher if before 14 wks gestation)
- Risk of infection
- Risk of amnionic fluid embolism
- Rhesus sensitization
- Increased risk of club foot
Timeframe for amniocentesis vs chorionic villus sampling
- Amniocentesis: After 15 wks gestation
- Chorionic villus sample: Between 11 and 13+6 wks gestation

Interpreting Quad Screen results with relationship to trisomy 21, neural tube defect, and trisomy 18
Note that in the trisomies, AFP is significantly lower
In the neural tube defect, AFP is higher than expected and all other metrics are normal

Following an abnormal non-invasive aneuploidy screening test result, what is the next step in management?
- Invasive diagnostic testing:
- Chorionic villus sampling
- Amniocentesis

Why is the rate of multiple gestation pregnancies increasing as time goes on?
- Increasing average maternal age
- Increased prevalence of assisted fertilization
Risk factors for multiple gestation in a given individual
- Increasing maternal age
- Increasing parity
- FHx of twin pregnancies
- Use of assisted fertility or ovulation techniques
All multifetal gestations infants are at risk of ___, and the effect size of this is proportional to the number of gestations
All multifetal gestations infants are at risk of prematurity, and the effect size of this is proportional to the number of gestations
Complications associated with multiple gestations
- Prematurity
- Preeclampsia
- Congenital abnormalities
- Intrauterine growth restriction
- Placental abruption
Medical complications of multiple gestation pregnancies
- Elevated risk of pre-eclapmsia
- Hyperemesis gravidarum
- Gestational diabetes
- Post-partum depression
When to deliver different chorionicities of monozygotic twins
Note: Mo-mo twins are usually delivered by cesarean section to avoid risk of cord complications. Di-di or Di-mo twins can be delivered vaginally if after 32 weeks eGA, however many will still be delivered cesarean anyway to avoid any other possible complications.

External cephalic version
Guiding an acephalic infant into cephalic position for delivery
Fetal macrosomia
- Fetal mass >4000 g
- Morbidity sharply increases when fetus >4500g
- Causes:
- Maternal: Hx macrosomic pregnancy, excessive pregnancy weight gain, parity, glucose intolerance during pregnancy
- Fetal: Male fetus, Beckwith-Widemann syndrome
- Risks:
- Maternal: Postpartum hemorrhage, vaginal laceration,
- Fetal: Shoulder dystocia, clavicular fracture, lower Apgar score, obesity later in life
- Diagnosis: Combination of fundal height measure and clinical palpation along. Ultasound has high NPV, but poor PPV, so its role is only to rule out macrosomia.
Recommendations regarding delivery of infants w/ fetal macrosomia
- Cesarean section if:
- Fetal weight >5000 g
- Fetal weight >4500 g with diabetes
Fetal growth restriction
- When fetus is <10%ile weight
- Risks:
- Short term: Poor fetal reserve, intauterine failure or failure of delivery
- Long term: Cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, obesity
- Early onset IUGR has a worse prognosis than late onset due to irreversible changes in early pregnancy (early is hyperplastic growth, late is hypertrophic growth)
Maternal risk factors for early IUGR
- Infection (rubella, CMV, varicella)
- Smoking
- Multiple pregnancies
- Chronic maternal disease
