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Objective. To describe the prenatal detection of fetal trisomy 18 through abnormal sonographic features and to determine the sensitivity of sonographically detecting fetuses with trisomy 18. Methods. All genetic and cytogenetic records of fetuses with trisomy 18 were reviewed retrospectively (1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002). From these, singleton fetuses who had prenatal sonography at our unit were identified. The maximal numbers of individual abnormalities from 1 sonographic examination (not limited to type of organ system) were recorded. Each abnormality was classified as major, minor, or "other," and each organ system was classified as abnormal only once, regardless of the number of individual abnormalities identified in that system. The sensitivity of sonography in detecting abnormalities of trisomy 18 was determined. Results. Of 38 fetuses identified with trisomy 18, all had 4 or more prenatally detected sonographic abnormalities (sensitivity of sonographic detection of fetuses with trisomy 18, 100%). The median number of abnormalities per examination was 8 (range, 4-19). Sonographically detected major abnormalities were cardiac (84%; n = 32), central nervous system (87%; n = 33), gastrointestinal (26%; n = 10), and genitourinary (16%; n = 6). Sonographically detected minor abnormalities were short ear length below the 10th percentile for gestational age (96%; n = 26/27), upper extremities and hands (95%; n = 36), lower extremities and feet (63%; n = 24), and face (53%; n = 20). Fifty percent (19 of 38) had choroid plexus cysts identified, but this was never an isolated finding. Conclusions. In experienced hands, the sensitivity of detecting fetal trisomy 18 on prenatal sonography is 100%, and all cases will have multiple anomalies visualized.

Objective-Preeclampsia (PE) has been classified into early-and late-onset disease. These two phenotypic variants of PE have been proposed to have a different pathophysiology. However, the gestational age cut-off to define 'early' versus 'late' PE has varied among studies. The objective of this investigation was to determine the prevalence of lesions consistent with maternal underperfusion of the placenta in patients with PE as a function of gestational age.Study design-A nested case-control study of 8,307 singleton pregnant women who deliver after 20 weeks of gestation was constructed based on a cohort. Cases were defined as those with PE (n=910); controls were pregnant women who did not have a hypertensive disorder in pregnancy (n=7,397). The frequency of maternal underperfusion of the placenta (according to the criteria of the Society for Pediatric Pathology) was compared between the two groups. Logistic regression was used for analysis. Estimated relative risks were calculated from adjusted odds ratios. Results-1)The prevalence of lesions consistent with maternal underperfusion was higher in patients with PE than in the control group [43.3% vs. 15.9%; unadjusted odds ratio 4.0 (95% CI 3.5-4.7); P<0.001]; 2) the estimated relative risk of maternal underperfusion lesions in PE was higher than in the control group; 3) the lower the gestational age at delivery, the higher the relative risk for these lesions; 4) early-onset PE, regardless of the gestational age used to define it (<32, 33, 34, 35 or 37 weeks) had a significantly higher frequency of placental lesions consistent with maternal underperfusion than late-onset PE (p<0.001 for all). Conclusions-1)The earlier the gestational age of preeclampsia at delivery, the higher the frequency of placental lesions consistent with maternal underperfusion; 2) our data suggests that demonstrable placental involvement as determined by pathologic examination differs in early-and late-onset preeclampsia; and 3