SONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF FETAL COARCTATION OF THE AORTA AT 14-16 WEEKS OF GESTATION

The prenatal sonographic diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta is diff icult. The objective of this study was to present a simple and reliabl e marker of this anomaly in early pregnancy. In fetuses with coarctati on of aorta who were scanned at 14-16 weeks' gestation, a significant discrepancy teas observed between a large ductus arteriosus and a smal ler aorta at their point of connection, This difference between the si zes of the vessels probably reflects the reduced blood flow through th e aorta and the compensatory increase in blood flow through the right outflow tract in cases of coarctation.