Natural history of trisomy 18 and trisomy 13: II. Psychomotor development

Trends in the survival of patients with trisomy 13 from 1995 to 2021: A population study in Japan

It remains unclear whether recent changes in the prognosis and management of patients with trisomy 13 impact patient survival. We investigated changes in survival of patients with trisomy 13 in Japan. Data from the Vital Statistics Database in Japan was retrieved to examine the association of sex, surgical history, and years of birth and death with changes in survival patterns in 1164 patients with trisomy 13 between 1995 and 2021. The rates of deaths due to trisomy 13 increased from 9.8% to 23.1% in those over 1 year of age and from 7.3% to 19.2% in those within 24 h of birth between 1995 and 2021. The median survival time was longer in 2009-2021 than in 1996-2008 (40 vs. 84 days, p < 0.001). The median survival time and the rate of patients with surgical history increased from 91 days and 16.0% in 1996-2008 to 179 days and 28.0% in 2009-2021, respectively. Median survival time among patients with trisomy 13 has increased over the last 26 years, with almost 1 in 3 patients currently surviving for more than 1 year. The increased surgical intervention rate might have contributed to this improvement.

Cause, severity, and efficacy of treatment for hearing loss in children with Trisomy 18: A single institution-based retrospective study

Trisomy 18 is a common chromosomal aberration syndrome, characterized by variable clinical manifestations, including cardiovascular, pulmonary, genitourinary, and musculoskeletal findings, leading to a shorter survival and severe developmental delay in survivors. However, recently, intensive therapeutic intervention has allowed for prolonging survival. In terms of otological complications, only a limited number of relevant reports have been published. To demonstrate the characteristic of hearing loss (HL) in children with Trisomy 18, we retrospectively evaluated 22 patients (44 ears) by comprehensive auditory evaluation with the auditory steady-state response (ASSR) test and temporal bone computed tomography (CT). ASSR revealed that 20 patients (91%) had bilateral moderate to profound HL, more frequent and severe than that in Trisomy 21; among 42 ears having HL, 12 ears (29%) had conductive HL, and 26 ears (62%) had mixed HL. CT scans of 38 ears revealed that 34 ears (89%) had an external and middle ear malformation. Hearing aids (HA) were fitted in 17 patients (air and bone-conduction HAs). The threshold hearing with HA was improved in all of them. Accurate otological evaluation using ASSR and CT and intervention by HAs could be a feasible choice for children with Trisomy 18.

Seizures in trisomy 18: Prevalence, description, and treatment

Changes in medical intervention over the last decade have improved outcomes for individuals with trisomy 18, the second most common human aneuploidy syndrome at birth. As children with trisomy 18 live longer, a shared concern of medical experts and parents is the occurrence and treatment of seizures. Previously published surveillance guidelines for this condition have not addressed seizure management. Using parent-reported data collected as part of the Tracking Rare Incidence Syndromes project, we report on the prevalence, course, and management of seizures in individuals with trisomy 18. Twenty-eight percent (52/186) of individuals diagnosed with trisomy 18 in our retrospective cohort experienced generalized, focal, or mixed seizures at some point in their lifetime. For many individuals, seizures were effectively managed by broad-spectrum anti-seizure medications. Correlation analysis showed that focal and generalized seizures were more likely to occur in individuals who had previously experienced infantile spasms or central apnea. Electroencephalogram testing should be considered as part of a standard screening approach in individuals with trisomy 18 to enable early diagnosis and treatment of seizures. An international registry that incorporates parent-reported and clinical data for patients with trisomy 18 may facilitate ongoing research and recruitment into clinical trials for seizure management.

Trisomy 13: Survival beyond the NICU

Trisomy 13 is the third most common autosomal aneuploidy disorder and is associated with a number of congenital malformations. Survival of infants with trisomy 13 has improved over time as life-prolonging technological interventions are more commonly offered. In this article, we describe the course of a child with trisomy 13 who has been followed at our hospital since infancy and explore the changing landscape of care for children with trisomy 13.

Discipline-Specific Perspectives on Caring for Babies with Trisomy 13 or 18 in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVE

Care offerings vary across medical settings and between families for babies with trisomy 13 or 18. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore nurse, advanced practice practitioner, and neonatologist perspectives on care for babies with trisomy 13 or 18 in the intensive care unit.

STUDY DESIGN

Voice-recorded qualitative interviews occurred with 64 participants (41 bedside nurses, 14 advance practice practitioners, and 9 neonatologists) from two neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in the midwestern United States. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines were followed. Content analyses occurred utilizing MAXQDA (VERBI Software, 2020).

RESULTS

Over half of NICU staff perceived care for babies with trisomy 13 or 18 as different from care for other babies with critical chronic illness. Qualitative themes included internal conflict, variable presentation and prognosis, grappling with uncertainty, family experiences, and provision of meaningful care. Neonatologists emphasized the variability of presentation and prognosis, while nurses emphasized provision of meaningful care. Phrases "hard/difficult" were spoken 31 times; primarily describing the comorbidities, complexities, and prognostic uncertainty.

CONCLUSION

Care for babies with these genetic diagnoses reveals need for a shared dialogue not only with families but also across staff disciplines. While perspectives differ, participants depicted striving to offer compassionate, family-centered care while also balancing biomedical uncertainty about interventions for children with trisomy 13 and 18.

KEY POINTS

· Care for babies with trisomy 13 or 18 has been recognized as shifting.. · Controversy exists across the diverse and changing range of care models.. · This study describes perspectives of bedside neonatal nurses, advanced practitioners, and neonatologists.. · Differences in perspectives warrant attentiveness to insights and dialogue across disciplines..

Improving survival in patients with trisomy 18

The effects of medical and surgical interventions on the survival of patients with trisomy 18 have been reported, leading to changes in perinatal management and decision-making. However, few studies have fully reported the recent changes in survival and treatment of trisomy 18. We examined how treatment and survival of patients with trisomy 18 have changed over a decade in a Japanese pediatric tertiary referral center. This retrospective cohort study included patients with trisomy 18 who were admitted within the first 7 days of life at the Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children's Hospital between 2008 and 2017. The patients were divided into early period (EP) and late period (LP) groups based on the birth year of 2008-2012 and 2013-2017, respectively. Changes in treatment and survival rates were compared between the two groups. A total of 56 patients were studied (29 in the EP group and 27 in the LP group). One-year survival rates were 34.5% and 59.3% in the EP and LP groups, respectively. The survival to discharge rate significantly increased from 27.6% in the EP group to 81.5% in the LP group (p < 0.001). The proportion of patients receiving surgery, especially for congenital heart defects, significantly increased from 59% in the EP group to 96% in the LP group (p = 0.001). In our single-center study, survival and survival to discharge were significantly improved in patients with trisomy 18, probably because of increased rate of surgical interventions. These findings may facilitate better decision-making by patients' families and healthcare providers.

Surveillance guidelines for children with trisomy 13

Trisomy 13 is one of the three most common aneuploidy syndromes in live-born infants. It is associated with mortality rates as high as 90% within the first year of life, in large part, due to the high prevalence of severe congenital abnormalities that increase mortality and morbidity. However, life-saving and life-prolonging medical interventions are being performed at a higher rate for these infants, resulting in increased rates of survival. Although cardiac complications have been well described in infants with trisomy 13, these patients also experience other complications such as respiratory, neurological, genitourinary, abdominal, otolaryngologic, and orthopedic complications that can impact their quality of life. The goal of this review is to present a comprehensive description of complications in children with trisomy 13 to aid in the development of monitoring and treatment guidelines for the increasing number of providers who will be caring for these patients throughout their lives. Where the evidence is available, this review presents screening recommendations to allow for more rapid detection and documentation of these complications.

Next Generation Sequencing Based Non-invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT): First Report From Saudi Arabia

Background: Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for aneuploidy in pregnant women screening has been recently established in Saudi Arabia. We aim from this study to report our experience in the implementation of this new technology in clinical practice and to assess factors influencing cell-free fetal (cffDNA) fraction and successful NIPT reporting.

Methods: In total, 200 pregnant women were subjected to the NIPT test using standard methods. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to analyze cffDNA in maternal plasma.

Results: Out of the 200 NIPT cases, the average age of pregnant women was 35 ± 6 years (range: 21–48 years). The average cffDNA fraction of reported cases was 13.72% (range: 3–31%). Out of these 200 cases, 187 (93.5%) were at low risk, while 13 (6.5%) cases revealed high risk for aneuploidy. Among these chromosomal abnormalities, 7 (3.5%) cases of Down’s syndrome, 5 (2.5%) Edwards’ Syndrome, and only 1 case of (0.5%) Patau’s syndrome was observed. Out of the 13 high-risk cases, 2 (15.3%) were found in women below the age of 30.

Conclusion: This is the first study reporting the successful implementation of an in-house NIPT screening service in Saudi Arabia. Our data showed high accuracy and sensitivity to detect high-risk cases indicating the usefulness of such a technique as an alternative to invasive testing and (hopefully) will change the common screening practice for pregnant women in Saudi Arabia.

Surveillance guidelines for children with trisomy 18

Trisomy 18 is the second most common aneuploidy syndromes in live born infants. It is associated with high mortality rates, estimated to be 75%-95% in the first year of life, as well as significant morbidity in survivors. The low survival is largely due to the high prevalence of severe congenital anomalies in infants with this diagnosis. However, interventions to repair or palliate those life-threatening anomalies are being performed at a higher rate for these infants, resulting in increased rates of survival beyond the first year of life. While it is well documented that trisomy 18 is associated with several cardiac malformations, these patients also have respiratory, neurological, neoplastic, genitourinary, abdominal, otolaryngologic, and orthopedic complications that can impact their quality of life. The goal of this review is to present a comprehensive description of complications in children with trisomy 18 to aid in the development of monitoring and treatment guidelines for the increasing number of providers who will be caring for these patients throughout their lives. Where the evidence is available, this review presents screening recommendations to allow for more rapid detection and documentation of these complications.

Interdisciplinary care of children with trisomy 13 and 18

Children with trisomy 13 and 18 (previously deemed "incompatible with life") are living longer, warranting a comprehensive overview of their unique comorbidities and complex care needs. This Review Article provides a summation of the recent literature, informed by the study team's Interdisciplinary Trisomy Translational Program consisting of representatives from: cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, neonatology, otolaryngology, intensive care, neurology, social work, chaplaincy, nursing, and palliative care. Medical interventions are discussed in the context of decisional-paradigms and whole-family considerations. The communication format, educational endeavors, and lessons learned from the study team's interdisciplinary care processes are shared with recognition of the potential for replication and implementation in other care settings.

The short-term mortality and morbidity of very low birth weight infants with trisomy 18 or trisomy 13 in Japan

Trisomy 18 (T18) and trisomy 13 (T13) are major concerns in prenatal genetic testing due to their poor prognosis; very low birth weight (VLBW) is also a concern in neonatology. The aim of this study was to investigate the mortality and morbidity of VLBW infants diagnosed with T18/T13 in Japan, compared with those with no birth defects (BD-). Maternal and neonatal data were collected prospectively from infants weighing <1501 g and were admitted to centers of the Neonatal Research Network of Japan during 2003 to 2016. Among 60,136 infants, 563 and 60 was diagnosed with T18 and T13, respectively. Although the age of mothers of infants with T18/T13 was higher, the frequency of maternal complications was lower than those with BD-. With maternal and neonatal characteristic adjustments, T18/T13 had a higher incidence of each morbidity when compared with BD-. Mortality rates in the NICU were 70, 77, and 5.8% for T18, T13, and BD-, respectively, while the survival discharge rates of T18 and T13 were 29.5 and 23.3%, respectively, which was significantly higher than previous reports. This was the first nationwide survey for VLBW infants with T18/T13 in Japan; this novel data will be relevant and useful for prenatal genetic counseling and perinatal management. Although T18/T13 were considered to be fatal in the past, with proper epidemiological information, discussions with affected families, and compassionate patient care, the mortality rate of T18/T13 can be improved.

Perinatal Counseling Following a Diagnosis of Trisomy 13 or 18: Incorporating the Facts, Parental Values, and Maintaining Choices

BACKGROUND

Families with a prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 13 or 18 are told many things, some true and some myths. They present with differing choices on how to proceed that may or may not be completely informed.

PURPOSE

To provide the prenatal counselor with a review of the pertinent obstetrical and neonatal outcome data and ethical discussion to help them in supporting families with the correct information for counseling.

METHODS/SEARCH STRATEGY

This article provides a review of the literature on facts and myths and provides reasonable outcome data to help families in decision making.

FINDINGS/RESULTS

These disorders comprise a heterogeneous group regarding presentation, outcomes, and parental goals. The authors maintain that there needs to be balanced decision-making between parents and providers for the appropriate care for the woman and her infant.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Awareness of this literature can help ensure that prenatal and palliative care consultation incorporates the appropriate facts and parental values and in the end supports differing choices that can support the infant's interests.

Cardiac Surgery in Patients With Trisomy 13 and 18: An Analysis of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database

Background Congenital heart disease is common in patients with Trisomy 13 (T13) and Trisomy 18 (T18), but offering cardiac surgery to these patients has been controversial. We describe the landscape of surgical management across the United States, perioperative risk factors, and surgical outcomes in patients with T13 and T18. Methods and Results Patients in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database with T13 and T18 who underwent cardiac surgery (2010-2017) were included. There were 343 operations (T13: n=73 and T18: n=270) performed on 304 patients. Among 125 hospitals, 87 (70%) performed at least 1 operation and 26 centers (30%) performed ≥5 T13/T18 operations. Operations spanned the full spectrum of complexity with 29% (98/343) being in the highest categories of estimated risk. The operative mortality rate was 15%, with a 56% complication rate. Preoperative mechanical ventilation was associated with an odds ratio of mortality >8 for both patients with T13 and T18 (both P<0.012) while presence of a gastrostomy tube (odds ratio, 0.3; P=0.03) or prior cardiac surgery (odds ratio, 0.2; P=0.02) was associated with better survival in patients with T18 but not patients with T13. Conclusions Data from this nationally representative sample indicate that most centers offer surgical intervention for both patients with T13 and T18, even in highly complex patients. However, the overall mortality rate was high in this select patient cohort. The association of preoperative mechanical ventilation with mortality suggests that this subset of patients with T13 and T18 should perhaps not be considered surgical candidates. This information is valuable to clinicians and families for counseling and deciding what interventions to offer.

Mortality and Resource Use Following Cardiac Interventions in Children with Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18 and Congenital Heart Disease

We sought to evaluate the mortality, risk factors for mortality, and resource utilization following cardiac interventions in trisomy 13 (T13) and 18 (T18) children. All T13 and T18 children who underwent a cardiac intervention from January 1999 to March 2015 were identified from the Pediatric Health Information System database. Data collected included demographics, type of congenital heart disease (CHD), cardiac interventions, comorbidities, length of stay (LOS), hospital charges, and deaths (within 30 days). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with mortality. There were 49 (47% females) T13 and 140 (67% females) T18 subjects. The two cohorts were similar in distribution for race, geographic region, insurance type, and median household income. The most common CHD in both groups was a shunt lesion followed by conotruncal defects. Compared to T18, the T13 cohort had higher mortality (29% vs. 12%), tracheostomies (12% vs. 4%), gastrostomies (18% vs. 6%), and overall resource use (P < 0.05 for all). White race (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.06-0.81) in T13 and older age (in weeks) at surgery in T18 (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.64-0.86) were associated with lower mortality. A select group of T13 and T18 CHD patients can undergo successful cardiac interventions, albeit with a higher mortality and resource use. T13 patients have higher mortality and resource use compared to T18. In T13 and T18 patients, interventions for CHD may be an acceptable and ethical option following a careful individualized selection and counseling by a team of experts.

Survival and healthcare utilization of infants diagnosed with lethal congenital malformations

OBJECTIVE

We assessed survival, hospital length of stay (LOS), and costs of medical care for infants with lethal congenital malformations, and also examined the relationship between medical and surgical therapies and survival.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study including infants born 1998-2009 with lethal congenital malformations, identified using a longitudinally linked maternal/infant database.

RESULTS

The cohort included 786 infants: trisomy 18 (T18, n = 350), trisomy 13 (T13, n = 206), anencephaly (n = 125), bilateral renal agenesis (n = 53), thanatophoric dysplasia/achondrogenesis/lethal osteogenesis imperfecta (n = 38), and infants > 1 of the birth defects (n = 14). Compared to infants without birth defects, infants with T18, T13, bilateral renal agenesis, and skeletal dysplasias had longer survival rates, higher inpatient medical costs, and longer LOS.

CONCLUSION

Care practices and survival have changed over time for infants with T18, T13, bilateral renal agenesis, and skeletal dysplasias. This information will be useful for clinicians in counseling families and in shaping goals of care prenatally and postnatally.

Clinical courses of children with trisomy 13 receiving intensive neonatal and pediatric treatment

Management of children with trisomy 13 (T13) is controversial because of a paucity of evidence of the natural history, especially focusing on efficacy of treatment. There has been no report regarding natural history of children with T13 receiving intensive neonatal and pediatric treatment without cardiac surgery, although several reports have suggested efficacy of cardiac surgery. To describe the detailed and comprehensive natural history of children with T13 receiving intensive neonatal and pediatric treatment without cardiac surgery, we reviewed clinical information of 24 children with full T13 (15 boys, 9 girls) who were admitted to Nagano Children's Hospital from 1994 to 2016. Intensive neonatal and pediatric treatment without cardiac surgery was provided through careful discussion with the parents. We detailed accurate frequencies of complications, survival, underlying factors and the final modes of death, and psychomotor development of survivors. Unpublished complications including aortopulmonary window, pulmonary-ductus-descending aorta-trunk, biliary system abnormalities, eosinophilic enteritis, and neuroblastoma were described. Accurate frequencies of congenital heart defects (92%) and laryngomalacia and/or tracheomalacia (42%) were determined. The median survival time was 451 days and the 1-year survival rate was 54%. The major underlying factor associated with death was congenital heart defects and heart failure (63%) and the major final mode of death was heart failure (50%). Long-term survivors appeared to show slow but constant psychomotor development. Intensive neonatal and pediatric treatment without cardiac surgery for children with T13 is efficient for survival and psychomotor development, and could be a reasonable choice for parents having fetuses or children with T13.

Factors related to home health-care transition in trisomy 13

Trisomy 13 (T13) is accompanied by severe complications, and it can be challenging to achieve long-term survival without aggressive treatment. However, recently, some patients with T13 have been receiving home care. We conducted this study to investigate factors related to home health-care transition for patients with T13.We studied 28 patients with T13 born between January 2000 and December 2014. We retrospectively compared nine home care transition patients (the home care group) and 19 patients that died during hospitalization (the discharge at death group). The median gestational age of the patients was 36.6 weeks, with a median birth weight of 2,047 g. Currently, three patients (11%) have survived, and 25 (89%) have died. The home care group exhibited a significantly longer gestational age (38.9 vs. 36.3 weeks, p = 0.039) and significantly larger occipitofrontal circumference Z score (-0.04 vs. -0.09, p = 0.019). Congenital heart defects (CHD) was more frequent in the discharge at death group, with six patients in the home care group and 18 patients in the discharge at death group (67% vs. 95%, p = 0.047), respectively. Survival time was significantly longer in the home care group than in the discharge at death group (171 vs. 19 days, p = 0.012). This study has shown that gestational age, occipitofrontal circumference Z score at birth, and the presence of CHD are helpful prognostic factors for determining treatment strategy in patients with T13.

Moving toward a shared process: The impact of parent experiences on perinatal palliative care

Perinatal palliative care programs seek to support parents expecting a baby diagnosed with a serious medical condition. Clinicians have increasingly recognized the importance of parental perspectives on the medical care mothers and their fetuses and live-born children receive, especially regarding factors influencing individual choices and knowledge of the medical community. We describe, using literature on trisomy 13 and trisomy 18, how information shared between parents and providers can improve perinatal counseling and family support.

Beyond the Genetic Diagnosis: Providing Parents What They Want to Know

Clinicians need to provide accurate, up-to-date, and balanced information to parents following a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome and other genetic conditions. Families want information about the genomic outcomes and medical issues, but they also want information about life outcomes and social supports. Because the anticipated outcomes of a condition can change significantly based on available social support, health care, and services, it is important for clinicians to stay up-to-date about new developments and credible, medically reviewed information about Down syndrome and other genetic conditions to access resources for clinical care.

Infants with Trisomy 18 and Complex Congenital Heart Defects Should Not Undergo Open Heart Surgery

Aggressive medical and surgical interventions have not been clearly demonstrated to improve survival in neonates with trisomy 18; there are no data that demonstrates improved quality of life for these children after these interventions; and these interventions are clearly associated with significant morbidity, resource allocation, and cost.

Cardiac surgery for children with trisomies 13 and 18: Where are we now?

The objective is to examine whether cardiac surgery should be considered for children with trisomy 13 or 18 (T13 or 18).T13 or 18 were previously referred to as "lethal" conditions due to high mortality rates and severe disability among survivors. In the last decade, investigations have revealed these conditions are heterogeneous, with increasing numbers of studies describing interventions for these children. A number of factors makes the interpretation of reported outcomes after cardiac surgery challenging: (1) dissimilarities in practice lead to a wide variation in reported outcomes after cardiac surgery; (2) cardiac surgery is generally offered to older, healthier children; (3) cardiac surgeries of widely varying risks are often lumped together in individual studies, and (4) cases where cardiac surgery has been withheld are generally not included in publications. It is unclear whether withholding cardiac surgery for some children with a ventricular septal defect will lead to death, or the development of pulmonary hypertension, or if death will occur from other causes. In this article, we describe two children with different clinical situations and examine whether cardiac surgery would benefit them and how to communicate with their families. Cardiac surgery may be beneficial to some children with trisomy 13 or 18, but may harm others. Every child should be approached in an individual fashion and the goals of each family should be addressed. Children who are more likely to benefit from surgery may be older, healthier children without respiratory support. Rigorous and transparent research is needed to identify factors that affect survival in trisomy 13 or 18.

Reported communication ability of persons with trisomy 18 and trisomy 13

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the communication ability of individuals with trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 syndromes.

METHODS

Parents reported on children's potential communication acts, words, spontaneous gesture, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) using a parent report inventory (n = 32; age range 3-35 years). Potential communicative acts are defined as behaviors produced by an individual that may be interpreted by others to serve communicative functions.

RESULTS

Potential communicative acts categorized as body movement displayed the highest median rank for reported occurrence followed by vocalization and facial expression. Although symbolic forms were ranked lower, more than half of the parents (66%) reported that their children produced at least one word, gesture or AAC form. Challenging behaviors or stereotypic movement displayed lowest median ranks.

CONCLUSIONS

Results are discussed in terms of communication potential and the need to address AAC in trisomy 18 and 13.

Clinical features and survival in individuals with trisomy 18: A retrospective one-center study of 44 patients who received intensive care treatments

Trisomy 18 syndrome is a common autosomal aneuploidy chromosomal abnormality caused by the presence of extra chromosome 18 that leads to malformations of various parts of the body. In this study, we retrospectively investigated the effect of the medical progression and prognosis of 44 cases of trisomy 18, admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit between 1992 and 2013. The patients were divided into group A (n=20, 1992‑2002) and group B (n=24, 2003‑2012). Following delivery, karyotype, gender, gestational weeks, birth place, cesarean section, Apgar score and birth weight were analyzed using the Fisher's exact test, unpaired t‑test and Mann‑Whitney U test. Based on the statistical results, a comparison was made of the two groups and no significant differences were observed. Clinical data of major complications, mechanical ventilation, discharge from hospital and survival days were reviewed for the cases of trisomy 18. Of the 44 patients, 42 had cardiac anomaly, 16 had esophageal atresia, and 3 patients had brain anomaly. Ventilation treatment was performed in 29 cases (65.9%) and an increased percentage was identified in group B patients. The percentage survival was estimated using Kaplan‑Meier curves and the two groups were analyzed using the generalized Wilcoxon test. Improvement in life prognosis was observed in group B as compared to group A. The log‑rank test was used to assess survey periods of 180 days, 1 year, and the entire observation period. Although significant differences were observed for the prognosis of trisomy 18 at 180 days after birth, after 1 year and the entire survey period after birth, the significant differences were not confirmed. In conclusion, results of the present study provide information concerning genetic counseling for parents/guardians and life prognosis, prior to applying intensive management to newborns with trisomy 18.

Otolaryngologic surgery in children with trisomy 18 and 13

OBJECTIVES

Trisomy 18 and 13 are the most common autosomal trisomy disorders after Down syndrome. Given the high mortality rate (5-10% one-year survival), trisomy 18 and 13 were historically characterized as uniformly lethal and palliation was the predominant management approach. Management strategy has shifted with recognition that through medical and surgical intervention, children with trisomy 18 and 13 can achieve developmental milestones, live meaningful lives, and exhibit long-term survival. Otolaryngologic surgery in children with trisomy 18 and 13 has not been described. The objective of this article is to describe the role of the otolaryngologist in the management of children with trisomy 18 and 13.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Retrospective cohort analysis of the surgery registry for the Support Organization for Trisomy 18, 13 and Related Disorders for otolaryngologic surgeries reported from 1988 through June 1, 2014.

RESULTS

In the database of approximately 1349 children, 1380 procedures were reported, 231 (17%) of which were otolaryngologic. The most common otolaryngologic procedures were tympanostomy tube placement (57/231, 25%), cleft lip repair (40/231, 17%), tracheostomy (38/231, 16.5%), tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy (37/231, 16%), and cleft palate repair (30/231, 13%). Of the ten most common procedures reported, four were otolaryngologic.

CONCLUSIONS

Seventeen percent of procedures performed in children with trisomy 18 and 13 were otolaryngologic, highlighting the significant role of the otolaryngologist in the treatment of these patients. Surgical intervention may be considered as part of a balanced approach to patient care.

Developmental status of 22 children with trisomy 18 and eight children with trisomy 13: implications and recommendations

Trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 are conditions often referred to as "incompatible with life" or "lethal anomalies." If there is long-term survival, the outlook is considered "grim." Developmental status is presumed to be minimal. Yet, Baty et al. [1994; 49:189-194] described a variety of developmental skills in their sample. An additional 22 children with trisomy 18 and eight with trisomy 13 are described here. A range of developmental skills is noted with strengths in the language and communication, gross and fine motor and social-emotional domains including indicating preferences, exploration of objects and a range of voluntary mobility. These results serve to expand the knowledge base on developmental status for these groups and advance the need to further explore developmental abilities rather than focus on deficits. Avenues for future research, implications, and recommendations are provided.

Academia, advocacy, and industry: a collaborative method for clinical research advancement

Professionals who work in academia, advocacy, and industry often carry out mutually exclusive activities related to research and clinical care. However, there are several examples of collaboration among such professionals that ultimately allows for improved scientific and clinical understanding. This commentary recounts our particular experience (a collaboration between geneticists at the Universities of Minnesota and Utah, the 4p- Support Group, and Lineagen, Inc) and reviews other similar projects. We formally propose this collaborative method as a conduit for future clinical research programs. Specifically, we encourage academicians, directors of family/advocacy/support groups, and members of industry to establish partnerships and document their experiences. The medical community as a whole will benefit from such partnerships and, specifically, families will teach us lessons that could never be learned in a laboratory or textbook.

Evolving medical and surgical management of infants with trisomy 18

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review the evolving management of infants/children with trisomy 18, the prognosis with and without medical intervention, the factors that have contributed to the evolving management strategies, and an approach to the formulation of healthcare management plans for newborns with trisomy 18.

RECENT FINDINGS

There has been a trend from nonintervention for infants/children with trisomy 18 toward management to prolong life. It has become clear that the prognosis for infants/children with trisomy 18 is not as 'hopeless' as was once asserted. However, case series of patients with trisomy 18 managed with a goal of prolonging life are not adequate to evaluate the efficacy of these interventions. They are also not adequate to support the contention that they have no efficacy. In fact, anecdotal evidence and medical plausibility suggest that treatment can prolong life in some cases. This trend has been supported by a change in emphasis from a largely physician-directed model of medical decision-making to a collaborative model, which respects parents' rights to make healthcare decisions for their children and recognizes that judgments about outcomes are often subjective, and social networks, which support and advocate for children with trisomy 18 and their families. An approach to collaborative medical decision-making that is goal-directed is recommended.

SUMMARY

Healthcare management approaches or policies that reject out of hand the goal of prolonging the life of any infant/child with trisomy 18 are not defensible. Management plans should be goal-directed, based on the physician-parent evaluation of the benefits and burdens of care options for the individual child.

Mortality and morbidity of VLBW infants with trisomy 13 or trisomy 18

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about how very low birth weight (VLBW) affects survival and morbidities among infants with trisomy 13 (T13) or trisomy 18 (T18). We examined the care plans for VLBW infants with T13 or T18 and compared their risks of mortality and neonatal morbidities with VLBW infants with trisomy 21 and VLBW infants without birth defects.

METHODS

Infants with birth weight 401 to 1500 g born or cared for at a participating center of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network during the period 1994-2009 were studied. Poisson regression models were used to examine risk of death and neonatal morbidities among infants with T13 or T18.

RESULTS

Of 52,262 VLBW infants, 38 (0.07%) had T13 and 128 (0.24%) had T18. Intensity of care in the delivery room varied depending on whether the trisomy was diagnosed before or after birth. The plan for subsequent care for the majority of the infants was to withdraw care or to provide comfort care. Eleven percent of infants with T13 and 9% of infants with T18 survived to hospital discharge. Survivors with T13 or T18 had significantly increased risk of patent ductus arteriosus and respiratory distress syndrome compared with infants without birth defects. No infant with T13 or T18 developed necrotizing enterocolitis.

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort of liveborn VLBW infants with T13 or T18, the timing of trisomy diagnosis affected the plan for care, survival was poor, and death usually occurred early.

Development of patients with 47,XX,+13/45,X mosaics: case report and review of the literature

Very few cases of mosaic trisomy 13 combined with a monosomy X have been reported. It can be assumed that most likely the zygote was 47,XX,+13 and 2 chromosomes (13 and X) were lost simultaneously during an early postzygotic division. Here, we reported a 3-year-old girl with mosaicism of trisomy 13 and monosomy X. The child had a short neck, hypertelorism, depressed nasal ridge, epicanthal fold, mid-facial hypoplasia, thin upper lip, long philtrum, ear anomalies, postaxial polydactyly, atrial septal defect, hydronephrosis, and sensorineural hearing loss. Her weight and length were consistently below the fifth centile. She demonstrated global developmental delay when evaluated at 10 and 16 months. The range of developmental quotients (DQs) was from 0.6 to 1.1; the personal-social part was the best, and gross motor development was the worst. When evaluated at 31 months, the DQs of motor development were from 0.52 to 0.69, the object manipulation subscale was 0.52, the visual-motor integration subscale was 0.59 and the mental DQ was 0.52. Her social-behavior part was the best, language was the worst and the DQs had dropped with growth.

CONCLUSION

This is a case report of global development in a girl with mosaicism of trisomy 13 and monosomy X. The majority of physical anomalies observed tend to be mild and non-life threatening. Her DQs dropped with growth, and the language and mental development were significantly delayed after 30 months.

Perinatal management of trisomy 18: a survey of obstetricians in Australia, New Zealand and the UK

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to explore the attitudes of obstetricians in Australia, New Zealand and the UK towards prenatally diagnosed trisomy 18 (T18).

METHOD

Obstetricians were contacted by email and invited to participate in an anonymous electronic survey.

RESULTS

Survey responses were obtained from 1018/3717 (27%) practicing obstetricians/gynaecologists. Most (60%) had managed a case of T18 in the last 2 years. Eighty-five per cent believed that T18 was a 'lethal malformation', although 38% expected at least half of liveborn infants to survive for more than 1 week. Twenty-one per cent indicated that a vegetative existence was the best developmental outcome for surviving children. In a case of antenatally diagnosed T18, 95% of obstetricians would provide a mother with the option of termination. If requested, 99% would provide maternal-focused obstetric care (aimed at maternal wellbeing rather than fetal survival), whereas 80% would provide fetal-oriented obstetric care (to maximise fetal survival). Twenty-eight per cent would never discuss the option of caesarean; 21% would always discuss this option. Management options, attitudes and knowledge of T18 were associated with location, practice type, gender and religion of obstetricians.

CONCLUSION

There is variability in obstetricians' attitudes towards T18, with significant implications for management of affected pregnancies.

Our children are not a diagnosis: the experience of parents who continue their pregnancy after a prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 13 or 18

Trisomy 13 and trisomy 18 (T13-18) are associated with high rates of perinatal death and with severe disability among survivors. Prenatal diagnosis (PND) may lead many women to terminate their pregnancy but some women choose to continue their pregnancy. We sent 503 invitations to answer a questionnaire to parents who belong to T13 and 18 internet support groups. Using mixed methods, we asked parents about their prenatal experience, their hopes, the life of their affected child, and their family experience. 332 parents answered questions about 272 children; 128 experienced PND. These parents, despite feeling pressure to terminate (61%) and being told that their baby would likely die before birth (94%), chose to continue the pregnancy. Their reasons included: moral beliefs (68%), child-centered reasons (64%), religious beliefs (48%), parent-centered reasons (28%), and practical reasons (6%). At the time of the diagnosis, most of these parents (80%) hoped to meet their child alive. By the time of birth, 25% chose a plan of full interventions. A choice of interventions at birth was associated with fewer major anomalies (P < 0.05). Parents describe "Special" healthcare providers as those who gave balanced and personalized information, respected their choice, and provided support. Parents make decisions to continue a pregnancy and choose a plan of care for their child according to their beliefs and their child's specific medical condition, respectively. Insights from parents' perspective can better enable healthcare providers to counsel and support families.

Trissomia 18: revisão dos aspectos clínicos, etiológicos, prognósticos e éticos

OBJETIVO: Revisar as características clínicas, etiológicas, diagnósticas e prognósticas da trissomia do cromossomo 18 (síndrome de Edwards). FONTES DE DADOS: Foram pesquisados artigos científicos presentes nos portais MedLine, Lilacs e SciELO, utilizando-se os descritores 'trisomy 18' e 'Edwards syndrome'. A pesquisa não se limitou a um período determinado e englobou artigos presentes nestes bancos de dados. SÍNTESE DOS DADOS: A síndrome de Edwards é uma doença caracterizada por um quadro clínico amplo e prognóstico bastante reservado. Há descrição na literatura de mais de 130 anomalias diferentes, as quais podem envolver praticamente todos os órgãos e sistemas. Seus achados são resultantes da presença de três cópias do cromossomo 18. A principal constituição cromossômica observada entre estes pacientes é a trissomia livre do cromossomo 18, que se associa ao fenômeno de não disjunção, especialmente na gametogênese materna. A maioria dos fetos com síndrome de Edwards acaba indo a óbito durante a vida embrionária e fetal. A mediana de sobrevida entre nascidos vivos tem usualmente variado entre 2,5 e 14,5 dias. CONCLUSÕES: O conhecimento do quadro clínico e do prognóstico dos pacientes com a síndrome de Edwards tem grande importância no que diz respeito aos cuidados neonatais e à decisão de instituir ou não tratamentos invasivos. A rapidez na confirmação do diagnóstico é importante para a tomada de decisões referentes às condutas médicas. Muitas vezes, as intervenções são realizadas em condições de emergência, sem muita oportunidade de reflexão ou discussão, e envolvem questões médicas e éticas difíceis.

Perspectives on the care and management of infants with trisomy 18 and trisomy 13: striving for balance

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

At the time of diagnosis of the trisomy 18 and trisomy 13, parents and care providers face difficult and challenging decisions regarding management. Because of the increased infant mortality and developmental outcome associated with both conditions, the conventional approach to management has been to withhold technological support. In recent years, an active dialogue on this topic has emerged. The purpose of this review is to summarize the literature on the outcome of infants with trisomy 18 and 13 and to discuss the key themes in this emerging dialogue.

RECENT FINDINGS

In recent years, several important studies have appeared that have analyzed the issues relevant to this topic, including parental autonomy, best interest of the child standard, and quality of life. Some authorities state that in areas of ambiguity it is best to defer to parents' views, whereas others indicate concern that the best interest standard has given way to parental autonomy. Information on the actual experience of parents of children with trisomy 18 and 13 has been limited until recently.

SUMMARY

The author recommends a balanced approach to counseling families of the newborn with trisomy 18 and 13 at the time of diagnosis. The counseling process should include presentation of accurate survival figures, avoidance of language that assumes outcome, communication of developmental outcome that does not presuppose perception of quality of life, and respect for the family's choice, whether it be comfort care or intervention.

The trisomy 18 syndrome

The trisomy 18 syndrome, also known as Edwards syndrome, is a common chromosomal disorder due to the presence of an extra chromosome 18, either full, mosaic trisomy, or partial trisomy 18q. The condition is the second most common autosomal trisomy syndrome after trisomy 21. The live born prevalence is estimated as 1/6,000-1/8,000, but the overall prevalence is higher (1/2500-1/2600) due to the high frequency of fetal loss and pregnancy termination after prenatal diagnosis. The prevalence of trisomy 18 rises with the increasing maternal age. The recurrence risk for a family with a child with full trisomy 18 is about 1%. Currently most cases of trisomy 18 are prenatally diagnosed, based on screening by maternal age, maternal serum marker screening, or detection of sonographic abnormalities (e.g., increased nuchal translucency thickness, growth retardation, choroid plexus cyst, overlapping of fingers, and congenital heart defects ). The recognizable syndrome pattern consists of major and minor anomalies, prenatal and postnatal growth deficiency, an increased risk of neonatal and infant mortality, and marked psychomotor and cognitive disability. Typical minor anomalies include characteristic craniofacial features, clenched fist with overriding fingers, small fingernails, underdeveloped thumbs, and short sternum. The presence of major malformations is common, and the most frequent are heart and kidney anomalies. Feeding problems occur consistently and may require enteral nutrition. Despite the well known infant mortality, approximately 50% of babies with trisomy 18 live longer than 1 week and about 5-10% of children beyond the first year. The major causes of death include central apnea, cardiac failure due to cardiac malformations, respiratory insufficiency due to hypoventilation, aspiration, or upper airway obstruction and, likely, the combination of these and other factors (including decisions regarding aggressive care). Upper airway obstruction is likely more common than previously realized and should be investigated when full care is opted by the family and medical team. The complexity and the severity of the clinical presentation at birth and the high neonatal and infant mortality make the perinatal and neonatal management of babies with trisomy 18 particularly challenging, controversial, and unique among multiple congenital anomaly syndromes. Health supervision should be diligent, especially in the first 12 months of life, and can require multiple pediatric and specialist evaluations.

The experience of families with children with trisomy 13 and 18 in social networks

BACKGROUND

Children with trisomy 13 and trisomy 18 (T13-18) have low survival rates and survivors have significant disabilities. For these reasons, interventions are generally not recommended by providers. After a diagnosis, parents may turn to support groups for additional information.

METHODS

We surveyed parents of children with T13-18 who belong to support groups to describe their experiences and perspectives.

RESULTS

A total of 503 invitations to participate were sent and 332 questionnaires were completed (87% response rate based on site visits, 67% on invitations sent) by parents about 272 children. Parents reported being told that their child was incompatible with life (87%), would live a life of suffering (57%), would be a vegetable (50%), or would ruin their family (23%). They were also told by some providers that their child might have a short meaningful life (60%), however. Thirty percent of parents requested "full" intervention as a plan of treatment. Seventy-nine of these children with full T13-18 are still living, with a median age of 4 years. Half reported that taking care of a disabled child is/was harder than they expected. Despite their severe disabilities, 97% of parents described their child as a happy child. Parents reported these children enriched their family and their couple irrespective of the length of their lives.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents who engage with parental support groups may discover an alternative positive description about children with T13-18. Disagreements about interventions may be the result of different interpretations between families and providers about the experiences of disabled children and their quality of life.

Transcriptomic analysis of cell-free fetal RNA suggests a specific molecular phenotype in trisomy 18

Trisomy 18 is a common human aneuploidy that is associated with significant perinatal mortality. Unlike the well-characterized "critical region" in trisomy 21 (21q22), there is no corresponding region on chromosome 18 associated with its pathogenesis. The high morbidity and mortality of affected individuals has limited extensive investigations. In order to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the congenital anomalies observed in this condition, we investigated the in utero gene expression profile of second trimester fetuses affected with trisomy 18. Total RNA was extracted from cell-free amniotic fluid supernatant from aneuploid fetuses and euploid controls matched for gestational age and hybridized to Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 arrays. Individual differentially expressed transcripts were obtained by two-tailed t tests. Over-represented functional pathways among these genes were identified with DAVID and Ingenuity(®) Pathways Analysis. Results show that three hundred and fifty-two probe sets representing 251 annotated genes were statistically significantly differentially expressed between trisomy 18 and controls. Only 7 genes (2.8% of the annotated total) were located on chromosome 18, including ROCK1, an up-regulated gene involved in valvuloseptal and endocardial cushion formation. Pathway analysis indicated disrupted function in ion transport, MHCII/T cell mediated immunity, DNA repair, G-protein mediated signaling, kinases, and glycosylation. Significant down-regulation of genes involved in adrenal development was identified, which may explain both the abnormal maternal serum estriols and the pre and postnatal growth restriction in trisomy 18. Comparison of this gene set to one previously generated for trisomy 21 fetuses revealed only six overlapping differentially regulated genes. This study contributes novel information regarding functional developmental gene expression differences in fetuses with trisomy 18.

Survival of Texas infants born with trisomies 21, 18, and 13

Trisomies 21, 18, and 13 are the three most common trisomies among infants who survive to 20 weeks gestation or more. Overall information about birth prevalence, natural history, and mortality for all three trisomies is well defined, but information about ethnic-specific rates is limited. Only a few studies have examined mortality rates of trisomies 18 and 13 because so few cases are liveborn and most have very short life spans. This study assessed ethnic-specific population-based survival probabilities among infants for each trisomy. All cases of trisomies 21, 18, and 13 born in Texas between 1999 and 2003 were obtained from the Texas Birth Defects Registry and included 2,260 cases of trisomy 21, 398 cases of trisomy 18, and 213 cases of trisomy 13. Date and cause of death were obtained from the Texas vital statistics records and the National Death Index. Overall, birth prevalence rates (per 10,000 adjusted live births) for the three trisomies were 11.74 (95% CI: 11.25-12.25), 1.34 (95% CI: 1.18-1.52), 0.92 (95% CI: 0.79-1.07), respectively, and are consistent with previously reported rates. There were no differences in survival rates by ethnicity and the median survival for each trisomy was consistent with previous reports. The results of this study provide comprehensive population-based information for survival of infants with trisomies 21, 18, and 13.

Attitudes of neonatologists toward delivery room management of confirmed trisomy 18: potential factors influencing a changing dynamic

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the attitude of neonatal providers toward delivery room resuscitation of an infant with confirmed trisomy 18 with known congenital heart disease at >/=36 weeks of gestation.

METHODS

A multiple-choice questionnaire listing this clinical scenario was completed by neonatologists and fellows staffing level III NICUs. Potential factors influencing the decision to initiate resuscitation included maternal preference, neonatal condition at birth, obstetric care, and legal concerns.

RESULTS

Fifty-four (76%) of 71 surveys were completed. Of respondents, 44% indicated that they would be willing to initiate resuscitation. Maternal preference (70%) was the primary reason to initiate resuscitation, with the appearance of the neonate in the delivery room (46%) and legal concerns (25%) as additional factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Until recently, there was universal consensus that trisomy 18 was a lethal anomaly for which resuscitation in the delivery room was not indicated. These data indicate that more providers (44%) than anticipated would consider initiation of resuscitation for an infant with trisomy 18 even with congenital heart disease. We speculate that support for the best-interest standard for neonates is diminishing in favor of ceding without question to parental autonomy. This shift may have profound implications for ethical decisions in the NICU.