Triple Marker Screen in Mid-Trimester Of Pregnancy and USG Measured Nuchal Translucency and Its Association With Chromosomal Abnormalities -

In developing countries like India, the tests for detection of chromosomal abnormalities are under-used. Material and Methods : This was a prospective study conducted in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, LLRM Medical College, Meerut, from January 2006 to December 2007. Study subjects were 172 antenatals attending the Gynae. OPD between 1020 weeks of gestation. All these females underwent a regular Obstetric check-up and an ultrasound examination to measure nuchal translucency with simultaneous detection of other gross congenital anomalies and were tested for TRIPLE SCREEN BY CLIA .The pregnancies who screened positive were subjected to a level II scan and amniocentesis with karyotyping. Results : The rate of false positives is very high (sensitivity = 46.15%), when only Triple Marker Screening is used for detection of Chromosomal Abnormalities. Most of these patients are unnecessary subjected to amniocentisis. But if a thorough ultrasound evaluation using nuchal fold thickness and other sonographic markers for chromosomal trisomies is also performed, then the false positive rate is decreased simultaneously increasing the sensitivity of the test (78.21%). At the same time ultrasound can detect other cases such as molar pregnancy, twins which are a reason for fallacies of the triple test.