DOES GENDER HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE SONOGRAPHIC DETECTION OF 2ND-TRIMESTER FETUSES WITH DOWNS-SYNDROME

The biometric and structural sonographic features of 95 second-trimest er fetuses with Down's syndrome were evaluated to determine whether af fected male fetuses differed from affected females. There were 54 male and 41 female fetuses with Down's syndrome studied. A shortened femur was identified in 28/54 (52%) males compared with 19/41 (46%) affecte d females (NS). A thickened nuchal fold was identified in 19/54 (35%) of males vs. 20/41 (49%) of females. Renal pyelectasis was seen in 7/5 4 (13%) males and 8/41 (19%) females. A heart defect was seen in 8/54 (15%) males and 7/41 (17%) females. Ventriculomegaly was identified in 6/54 (11%) males and 3/41 (7%) females with Down's syndrome. There we re no statistically significant differences in the incidence of the so nographic findings when male and female Down's fetuses were compared O ur data show that the criteria for evaluation of sonographic markers f or the identification of second-trimester fetuses with Down's syndrome should be the same in male and female fetuses.