2ND-TRIMESTER MINOR ULTRASOUND ANOMALIES - IMPACT ON THE RISK OF ANEUPLOIDY ASSOCIATED WITH ADVANCED MATERNAL AGE

Objective: To determine the impact of the presence or absence of minor ultrasound anomalies for the risk of aneuploidy in patients already a t high risk because of advanced maternal age. Methods: Eleven hundred forty-four women having amniocentesis for advanced maternal age were d ivided into those with minor ultrasound anomalies (n = 62) and those w ithout (n = 1082). Two hundred fifty-nine women younger than 35 years but with minor anomalies on ultrasound were also included. Results: Fe tal aneuploidy was found in six of 62 (9.7%) women of advanced materna l age with minor ultrasound anomalies, in five of 1082 (0.5%) women ol der than 35 years with normal ultrasound results, and in five of 259 ( 1.9%) women younger than 35 years with minor ultrasound anomalies. Con clusion: Minor ultrasound anomalies increase considerably the risk of aneuploidy in women older than 35 years, and their absence lowers that risk slightly. Minor ultrasound anomalies in the fetuses of women you nger than 35 raises their risk to that of a 39-year-old woman in her s econd trimester. Ultrasound can be used to modify genetic risks at cou nseling and may help patients in their decision to have invasive testi ng.