Study of Foetal Nasal Bone Length During 15-38 Weeks of Gestation in Women of Northern India (U.P.) and Its Comparison With Western and Other Asian Women

Abstract

Foetal nasal bone length vary in different ethnic groups, its rate of growth in a particular group can be accurately measured. This increase in foetal nasal bone length can be used as a reference range for that particular group. OBJECTIVEThis study is an attempt to evaluate a reference range of foetal nasal bone length from 15 wks. to full term in North Indian population and to find the difference with other ethnic groups during the same period of gestation. MATERIAL AND METHODPregnant women undergoing ultrasonography from 15 wks. till term with a single live foetus having no complication either in the foetus or mother were selected for the study. All parameters i.e. BPD, AC, FL, kidney length, nasal bone length measurements and their rate of growth were calculated and findings were compared with other authors. RESULTSThe rate of growth of foetal nasal bone length during different weeks of gestation showed correlation described by the following equation NBL=0.349XGA+0.440 with goodness of fit estimate R 2 =0.969 with a constant p value <0.0001. There was a significant difference in length of foetal nasal bone length in different ethnic groups. Our results in North Indian population were similar to that of South Indian, Caucasians, Brazilian population, but very different from that of Chinese and Japanese population. CONCLUSIONThe data can be used in estimation of GA by NBL as the estimation of NBL is accurate and the increase per week of gestation shows a linear increase in Indian population. KEYWORDSFoetal Nasal Bone, Normal Range, North Indian Women. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE:Gupta DP, Gupta RP, Saxena DK, et al. Study of foetal nasal bone length during 15-38 weeks of gestation in women of Northern India (U.P.) and its comparison with Western and other Asian women.