Survival with trisomy 18--data from Switzerland

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.

The phenotypic spectrum of terminal and subterminal 6p deletions based on a social media-derived cohort and literature review

BACKGROUND

Terminal 6p deletions are rare, and information on their clinical consequences is scarce, which impedes optimal management and follow-up by clinicians. The parent-driven Chromosome 6 Project collaborates with families of affected children worldwide to better understand the clinical effects of chromosome 6 aberrations and to support clinical guidance. A microarray report is required for participation, and detailed phenotype information is collected directly from parents through a multilingual web-based questionnaire. Information collected from parents is then combined with case data from literature reports. Here, we present our findings on 13 newly identified patients and 46 literature cases with genotypically well-characterised terminal and subterminal 6p deletions. We provide phenotype descriptions for both the whole group and for subgroups based on deletion size and HI gene content.

RESULTS

The total group shared a common phenotype characterised by ocular anterior segment dysgenesis, vision problems, brain malformations, congenital defects of the cardiac septa and valves, mild to moderate hearing impairment, eye movement abnormalities, hypotonia, mild developmental delay and dysmorphic features. These characteristics were observed in all subgroups where FOXC1 was included in the deletion, confirming a dominant role for this gene. Additional characteristics were seen in individuals with terminal deletions exceeding 4.02 Mb, namely complex heart defects, corpus callosum abnormalities, kidney abnormalities and orofacial clefting. Some of these additional features may be related to the loss of other genes in the terminal 6p region, such as RREB1 for the cardiac phenotypes and TUBB2A and TUBB2B for the cerebral phenotypes. In the newly identified patients, we observed previously unreported features including gastrointestinal problems, neurological abnormalities, balance problems and sleep disturbances.

CONCLUSIONS

We present an overview of the phenotypic characteristics observed in terminal and subterminal 6p deletions. This reveals a common phenotype that can be highly attributable to haploinsufficiency of FOXC1, with a possible additional effect of other genes in the 6p25 region. We also delineate the developmental abilities of affected individuals and report on previously unrecognised features, showing the added benefit of collecting information directly from parents. Based on our overview, we provide recommendations for clinical surveillance to support clinicians, patients and families.

Ten-year survival of children with trisomy 13 or trisomy 18: a multi-registry European cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the survival to 10 years of age of children with trisomy 13 (T13) and children with trisomy 18 (T18), born 1995-2014.

DESIGN

Population-based cohort study that linked mortality data to data on children born with T13 or T18, including translocations and mosaicisms, from 13 member registries of EUROCAT, a European network for the surveillance of congenital anomalies.

SETTING

13 regions in nine Western European countries.

PATIENTS

252 live births with T13 and 602 with T18.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Survival at 1 week, 4 weeks and 1, 5 and 10 years of age estimated by random-effects meta-analyses of registry-specific Kaplan-Meier survival estimates.

RESULTS

Survival estimates of children with T13 were 34% (95% CI 26% to 46%), 17% (95% CI 11% to 29%) and 11% (95% CI 6% to 18%) at 4 weeks, 1 and 10 years, respectively. The corresponding survival estimates were 38% (95% CI 31% to 45%), 13% (95% CI 10% to 17%) and 8% (95% CI 5% to 13%) for children with T18. The 10-year survival conditional on surviving to 4 weeks was 32% (95% CI 23% to 41%) and 21% (95% CI 15% to 28%) for children with T13 and T18, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This multi-registry European study found that despite extremely high neonatal mortality in children with T13 and T18, 32% and 21%, respectively, of those who survived to 4 weeks were likely to survive to age 10 years. These reliable survival estimates are useful to inform counselling of parents after prenatal diagnosis.

Survival rates and outcomes of pregnancies with prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 18: A 16-year experience from a public hospital in South Africa

OBJECTIVE

Many studies, largely from high-income countries (HIC), have reported outcomes in babies with trisomy 18 (T18), with a paucity of data from Africa. Knowledge of outcomes is important in counselling women prenatally diagnosed with T18. We aimed to review all prenatally diagnosed cases of T18 between January 2006 and December 2021.

METHOD

Demographic data, diagnosis, gestation and outcome data were obtained from the Astraia® database and patient files.

RESULTS

We included 88 pregnant women of whom 46 terminated their pregnancies (30 beyond 24 weeks' gestation). Three underwent foeticides, one had a caesarean section for maternal obstetric reasons and 26 underwent inductions of labour without foetal monitoring. Four neonates were live born but none lived >8 h. In those who continued their pregnancies, the mean gestation at delivery was 34.8 weeks, 14 (33%) were live births and only 5 survived for >24 h with none surviving to 1 year of life.

CONCLUSION

In our cohort, infants with T18 had lower live birth rates and shorter survival than in the current literature from HIC. This may be due to the implementation of non-aggressive intrapartum care and comfort care for the neonates. This has implications for counselling in our setting.

Surgical history and outcomes in trisomy 13 and 18: A thirty-year review

BACKGROUND

Patients with Trisomy 13(T13) and 18(T18) have many comorbidities that may require surgical intervention. However, surgical care and outcomes are not well described, making patient selection and family counseling difficult. Here the surgical history and outcomes of T13/ T18 patients are explored.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients with T13 or T18 born between 1990 and 2020 and cared for at a tertiary children's hospital (Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis IN) was conducted, excluding those with insufficient records. Primary outcomes of interest were rates of mortality overall and after surgery. Factors that could predict mortality outcomes were also assessed.

RESULTS

One-hundred-seventeen patients were included, with 65% T18 and 35% T13. More than half of patients(65%) had four or more comorbidities. Most deaths occurred by three months at median 42.0 days. Variants of classic trisomies (mosaicism, translocation, partial duplication; p = 0.001), higher birth weight(p = 0.002), and higher gestational age(p = 0.01) were associated with lower overall mortality, while cardiac(p = 0.002) disease was associated with higher mortality. Over half(n = 64) underwent surgery at median age 65 days at time of first procedure. The most common surgical procedures were general surgical. Median survival times were longer in surgical rather than nonsurgical patients(p<0.001). Variant trisomy genetics(p = 0.002) was associated with lower mortality after surgery, while general surgical comorbidities(p = 0.02), particularly tracheoesophageal fistula/esophageal atresia(p = 0.02), were associated with increased mortality after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Trisomy 13 and 18 patients have vast surgical needs. Variant trisomy was associated with lower mortality after surgery while general surgical comorbidities were associated with increased mortality after surgery. Those who survived to undergo surgery survived longer overall.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Outcome after Prenatal Diagnosis of Trisomy 13, 18, and 21 in Fetuses with Congenital Heart Disease

Fetal congenital heart disease (CHD) is often associated with chromosomal abnormalities. Our primary aim was to assess stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates for pregnancies complicated by trisomies 13, 18, and 21 in the presence of CHD, from a single tertiary referral center during 2000-2020 in a retrospective cohort study. The secondary aims were to investigate maternal morbidity in these pregnancies, and to study the gestational or neonatal age when mortality occurred. Inclusion criteria were the prenatal diagnosis of at least one structural CHD, together with prenatally diagnosed fetal trisomy 13, 18, or 21. One-hundred and sixty patients with fetal trisomy 13 (14.4%), fetal trisomy 18 (28.8%), and fetal trisomy 21 (56.9%) were evaluated. In total, 98 (61.3%) families opted for the termination of pregnancy (TOP). Of the remaining 62 (38.8%) pregnancies, 16 (25.8%) resulted in intrauterine fetal death/death during delivery. Ten out of twenty-one (47.6%) infants with trisomy 13 or 18 were born alive. The livebirth rate was 87.8% (36/41) for infants with trisomy 21. Early neonatal death was observed in nine (19.6%) infants. Thirty-one (86.1%) infants with trisomy 21 survived the first year of life. These data may be helpful for counseling affected parents when the decision to terminate or continue the pregnancy should be considered.

Caffeine for the Treatment of Central Apnea in Trisomy 18: A Case Study in the Novel Use of Methylxanthines in Palliative Transport

Central apnea is a major cause of death in neonates with trisomy 18 (T18) and is likely due to immaturity of the respiratory drive, similar to the pathological mechanism in apnea of prematurity. Although caffeine has long been used for apnea of prematurity, its use has not yet been reported for infants with T18. Here we describe an infant with T18 receiving comfort-focused care and palliative transport home. Of utmost importance to her family was enabling the patient to spend time at home before her death. However, immediately before transport, she developed severe central apnea, raising concern that she may not survive the transfer. Caffeine was trialed in the hopes of reducing central apnea events. Its use was successful and facilitated safe transport, allowing the patient to uneventfully transition home, where she spent several meaningful weeks with her family before her death.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis in a child with Patau syndrome (trisomy 13) and persistent fetal haemoglobin

A 35-month-old boy with non-mosaic Patau syndrome presented in diabetic ketoacidosis and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus. A decision to treat this unanticipated medical problem was made in conjunction with the child's parent, and he improved with fluid resuscitation and insulin treatment. Acute kidney injury with hypernatraemia complicated his treatment, but this resolved with careful intravenous fluid management. The child survived and was followed up in the diabetes clinic where ongoing management was complicated by persistent fetal haemoglobin, which meant that glycated haemoglobin could not be used to gauge his glucose control.

A visual tool inclusive of fetal ultrasound and autopsy findings to reach a balanced approach to counseling on trisomy 18 in early second trimester

Identified by the eponym "Edwards' Syndrome," trisomy 18 (T18) represents the second most common autosomal trisomy after T21. The pathophysiology underlying the extra chromosome 18 is a nondisjunction error, mainly linked with the advanced maternal age. More frequent in female fetuses, the syndrome portends high mortality, reaching a rate of 80% of miscarriages or stillbirths. The three-step evaluation includes first trimester screening for fetal aneuploidy using a combination of maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency thickness, fetal heart rate and maternal serum free ß-hCG and PAPP-A; followed by the research for fragments of fetal DNA in maternal blood; and, finally, invasive techniques leave to the established diagnosis. Starting with the first trimester scan, selected ultrasound findings should be investigated to define not only the impact of the genetic problem on the fetus, but also to address the prenatal counseling. Previous series underline that T18 is not uniformly lethal. An active dialogue on the choices in the management of infants with T18 has emerged, sustained by the transition from the comfort care to the intervention attitude. Survival rates for individuals with supposedly fatal conditions have increased. In this novel scenario, an ad hoc counseling is pivotal. To support it, a comparative analysis by pictorial assays between ultrasound and autopsy findings could be beneficial. We provide an illustrative tool from a clinical case managed in early second trimester, with the purpose to strive a balanced approach in the hard choice faced by couples of fetuses with T18.

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.

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.

Population-Based Analysis of Secular Trends in Age at Death in Trisomy 18 Syndrome in Japan from 1975 to 2016

INTRODUCTION

Despite changes in prenatal diagnostic methods and perceptions regarding the prognosis of and treatment options for patients with trisomy 18 syndrome, data on the secular changes in patient survival are limited. This study aimed to investigate the survival pattern for such patients.

METHODS

To investigate the general patient survival patterns, we used data from the vital statistics database of deaths in Japan from 1975 to 2016. We described demographic factors, such as sex, gestational age at delivery, and surgical history, for patients whose primary cause of death was trisomy 18 syndrome.

RESULTS

The proportions of deaths within 24 h of birth (4.0% in 1975-1980 to 21.9% in 2011-2016) and at age ≥1 year (8.9% in 1975-1980 to 17.7% in 2011-2016) increased. The median survival time was higher for females, infants born after 37 weeks of gestation, and those who received surgical intervention. The median survival time tripled among patients who received surgical intervention (61.5 days in 1995-2005 to 182.5 days in 2006-2016), and the proportion of such patients increased (from 3.8% in 1995 to 24.1% of the entire affected population in 2016).

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

In Japan, the median survival time of infants with trisomy 18 increased over time, and the proportion of death within 24 h and at ≥1 year increased. Greater acknowledgement of the possible benefits of surgical intervention likely led to the increased provision of interventions and contributed to the increased survival time.

[Trisomy 18 or postnatal Edward´s syndrome: descriptive study conducted at the University Hospital Center of Casablanca and literature review]

Trisomy 18 is a chromosomal disease, caused by the presence of a supernumerary chromosome 18. Mortality among infants with trisomy 18 is high, secondary to lethal malformations associated with this syndrome. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and cytogenetic features of these patients, as well as the role of genetic counselling. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study over a 5-year period, from July 2015 to April 2019. The study involved, patients followed up in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd of Casablanca, having abnormalities suggestive of trisomy 18, then confirmed by cytogenetic study. The study enrolled 5 patients, 3 girls and 2 boys (female predominance; sex-ratio = 0,67) with clinically suspected Edward's syndrome, then confirmed by cytogenetic study. The mean age at diagnosis was 37.40 ± 23.98 days (9 days-2 months). Trisomy 18 was clinically suspected in two cases based on facial dysmorphism and malformative syndrome, a recognizable pattern of chromosomal abnormality. Two patients were hospitalized in the intensive care unit for decompensated heart failure associated with congenital heart disease, while one patient had neonatal respiratory distress associated with polymalformative syndrome at diagnosis. Cytogenetic study confirmed the diagnosis of free and homogeneous trisomy 18 in five patients, then genetic counselling was performed. The prevalence of trisomy 18 is variable. Global prevalence is estimated at 1/6000 live births, females are mostly affected. The diagnosis of trisomy 18 should be suspected at birth in newborns with typical craniofacial dysmorphism, arms lifted in supplication and permanent flexion of the fingers, the index finger overlapping the 3rd finger, the little finger overlapping the 4th finger. There are several malformations associated with trisomy 18. This syndrome should be also suspected in the antenatal period in patients with abnormalities on obstetric ultrasound. Moreover, survival is low and only one in 10 newborns reach the first year of life.

The Face Is the Mirror of the Soul. The Cardiovascular Physical Exam Is Not Yet Dead!

Cardiac pathology can be congenital or acquired with underlying genetic predispositions. In this era of medicine there is a concern that the comprehensive physical examination doctors prided themselves on is becoming a lost art. Research studies have also revealed a decline in physical examination skills. The full clinical cardiovascular examination is indeed quite complex and does take significant time to master. It is critical that physicians be competent in the physical exam. Not identifying subtle clinical findings leading to missed or delayed diagnosis which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. In this paper we intend to highlight the clinical cardiovascular findings that may be detected on patients even before initiating the physical exam. The head and neck visual examination may be quite revealing.

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.

Analysis of the genomic expression profile in trisomy 18: insight into possible genes involved in the associated phenotypes

Trisomy 18, sometimes called Edwards syndrome, occurs in about 1 in 6000 live births and causes multiple birth defects in affected infants. The extra copy of chromosome 18 causes the altered expression of many genes and leads to severe skeletal, cardiovascular and neurological systems malformations as well as other medical problems. Due to the low rate of survival and the massive genetic imbalance, little research has been aimed at understanding the molecular consequences of trisomy 18 or considering potential therapeutic approaches. Our research is the first study to characterize whole-genome expression in fibroblast cells obtained from two patients with trisomy 18 and two matched controls, with follow-up expression confirmation studies on six independent controls. We show a detailed analysis of the most highly dysregulated genes on chromosome 18 and those genome-wide. The identified effector genes and the dysregulated downstream pathways provide hints of possible genotype-phenotype relationships to some of the most common symptoms observed in trisomy 18. We also provide a possible explanation for the sex-specific differences in survival, a unique characteristic of trisomy 18. Our analysis of genome-wide expression data moves us closer to understanding the molecular consequences of the second most common human autosomal trisomy of infants who survive to term. These insights might also translate to the understanding of the etiology of associated birth defects and medical conditions among those with trisomy 18.

Major anomalies and birth-weight influence NICU interventions and mortality in infants with trisomy 13 or 18

OBJECTIVE

To describe neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) medical interventions and NICU mortality by birth weight and major anomaly types for infants with trisomy 13 (T13) or 18 (T18).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort analysis of infants with T13 or T18 from 2005 to 2012 in the Pediatrix Medical Group. We classified infants into three groups by associated anomaly type: neonatal surgical, non-neonatal surgical and minor. Outcomes were NICU medical interventions and mortality.

RESULTS

841 infants were included from 186 NICUs. NICU mortality varied widely by anomaly type and birth weight, from 70% of infants <1500 g with neonatal surgical anomalies to 31% of infants ⩾2500 g with minor anomalies. Infants ⩾1500 g without a neonatal surgical anomaly comprised 66% of infants admitted to the NICU; they had the lowest rates of NICU medical interventions and NICU mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk stratification by anomaly type and birth weight may help provide more accurate family counseling for infants with T13 and T18.

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.

Effectiveness of cardiac surgery in patients with trisomy 18: a single-institutional experience

BACKGROUND

Surgical repair for cardiac lesions has rarely been offered to patients with trisomy 18 because of their very short lifespans. We investigated the effectiveness of cardiac surgery in patients with trisomy 18. Patients and methods We performed a retrospective analysis of 20 consecutive patients with trisomy 18 and congenital cardiac anomalies who were evaluated between August, 2003 and July, 2013. All patients developed respiratory or cardiac failure due to excessive pulmonary blood flow. Patients were divided into two subgroups: one treated surgically (surgical group, n=10) and one treated without surgery (conservative group, n=10), primarily to compare the duration of survival between the groups.

RESULTS

All the patients in the surgical group underwent cardiac surgery with pulmonary artery banding, including patent ductus arteriosus ligation in nine patients and coarctation repair in one. The duration of survival was significantly longer in the surgical group than in the conservative group (495.4±512.6 versus 93.1±76.2 days, respectively; p=0.03). A Cox proportional hazard model found cardiac surgery to be a significant predictor of survival time (risk ratio of 0.12, 95% confidence interval 0.016-0.63; p=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac surgery was effective in prolonging survival by managing high pulmonary blood flow; however, the indication for surgery should be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis, because the risk of sudden death remains even after surgery. Patients' families should be provided with sufficient information to make decisions that will optimise the quality of life for both patients and their families.

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.

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.

A female newborn having mosaicism with near-tetraploidy and trisomy 18

Tetraploidy is characterized by the presence of four complete sets of chromosomes in an individual. Full tetraploidy is usually considered lethal. To date, only ten live-births with the condition have been reported. Trisomy 18 without neonatal intensive treatment is also known to be fatal. We report a female newborn who had mosaicism with near-tetraploidy and trisomy 18 (94,XXXX,+18,+18/47,XX,+18). She had features of conditions. The most plausible mechanism of the formation was a failure of cytoplasmic cleavage at the first division of the zygote. The longer survival of the patient compared with the 10 previously reported live-births with non-mosaic tetraploidy may be due to the dominance of the trisomy cells. We suggest that non-tetraploid cells, even when trisomic for chromosome 18, might contribute to longer survival in comparison to non-mosaic tetrapolid patients.

Is a prenatal diagnosis detrimental to the survival of a fetus with trisomy 18?

As trisomy 18 is so rare any individual study is unlikely to have a sufficient number of cases to examine whether a prenatal diagnosis is advantageous or detrimental to the survival of these infants. Estimates of survival in prenatally diagnosed live births have been obtained by combining data from individual hospitals, whereas estimates of survival in postnatally diagnosed live births have been obtained from large population studies linking cytogenetic registers to national mortality registers. The estimates of survival are often lower in the prenatally diagnosed series. However, comparing estimates from these two different sources is not valid; both sources are subject to different biases. At present, there is insufficient information available to indicate that receiving a prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 18 is detrimental to the survival of a foetus with trisomy 18. A prenatal diagnosis does enable the parents and clinicians time to reach a consensus on how best to care for the baby.

Survival of children with trisomy 13 and trisomy 18: A multi-state population-based study

Trisomy 13 (T13) and trisomy 18 (T18) are among the most prevalent autosomal trisomies. Both are associated with a very high risk of mortality. Numerous instances, however, of long-term survival of children with T13 or T18 have prompted some clinicians to pursue aggressive treatment instead of the traditional approach of palliative care. The purpose of this study is to assess current mortality data for these conditions. This multi-state, population-based study examined data obtained from birth defect surveillance programs in nine states on live-born infants delivered during 1999-2007 with T13 or T18. Information on children's vital status and selected maternal and infant risk factors were obtained using matched birth and death certificates and other data sources. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate age-specific survival probabilities and predictors of survival up to age five. There were 693 children with T13 and 1,113 children with T18 identified from the participating states. Among children with T13, 5-year survival was 9.7%; among children with T18, it was 12.3%. For both trisomies, gestational age was the strongest predictor of mortality. Females and children of non-Hispanic black mothers had the lowest mortality. Omphalocele and congenital heart defects were associated with an increased risk of death for children with T18 but not T13. This study found survival among children with T13 and T18 to be somewhat higher than those previously reported in the literature, consistent with recent studies reporting improved survival following more aggressive medical intervention for these children. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Parental counseling in trisomy 18: Novel insights in prenatal features and postnatal survival

Data on the outcome of trisomy T18 (T18) when diagnosed during pregnancy are lacking. We performed a retrospective study of pregnancies complicated by T18 diagnosed at our center and a literature search for publications on the topic, with pooled estimates of survival rates at different gestational and post-natal ages. In our series, all the 60 patients included in the analysis had prenatally detected ultrasound anomalies, which were evidenced in the first trimester or at the second trimester scan in 73% of cases. In the continued pregnancies, ultrasound findings did not correlate with prenatal or post-natal outcome. A meta-analysis of available literature and our data showed that 48% [37-60%] of fetuses were live born, and among these 39% [11-72%] survived beyond 48 hr and 11% [3-21%] beyond 1 month. Our results confirm that prenatal ultrasound has high sensitivity in detection of T18 but is not predictive of the outcome of the continued pregnancies. The data on survival support that T18, even when antenatally diagnosed, cannot be considered as a uniformly lethal syndrome.

[Trisomy 18 syndrome: A case report]

INTRODUCTION

The trisomy 18 syndrome occurs due to the presence of an extra chromosome 18 in most cases. The prevalence in infants is estimated at 1:6000 to 1:8000. Those affected have a high mortality rate, only 4% may survive their first year of life. There are few reported cases exceeding five years of age.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper is to report a case of trisomy 18 of long survival with oral cavity features not described in the literature, and to provide information to physicians and paediatricians about aetiology, phenotype, survival and genetic counselling.

CASE REPORT

A 7 year-old female patient with 2 karyotypes performed by lymphocyte culture showing 47XX+18 in all metaphases. She presented with growth deficiency, dysmorphic facies, severe psychomotor retardation and cognitive disability, inability to feed, lack of verbal language, sensorineural hearing loss, ataxia, cerebellar hypoplasia, and genitals with hypoplastic labia majora and minora. In the oral cavity: dome shaped palate, macroglossia, absence of upper central incisors and first upper and lower molars in mouth. X-ray findings showed formation of missing teeth, with late eruption being concluded.

CONCLUSIONS

In cases of trisomy 18 syndrome there is an increased risk of neonatal and infant mortality. The clinical characteristics in utero and in neonates have been well described. Since few cases exceeding five years of age have been reported, the phenotype is yet to be established. In the case being reported we describe oral cavity findings not documented in the literature.

Differences in mortality and morbidity according to gestational ages and birth weights in infants with trisomy 18

The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of gestational age and birth weight on outcomes of the infants. Medical records of 36 infants with trisomy 18 admitted to Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital from 1991 to 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. We compared clinical characteristics between term infants (n = 15) and preterm infants (n = 21). There were one very‐low‐birth‐weight (VLBW) term infant (5%) and 12 VLBW preterm infants (80%). Although there were no significant differences in clinical characteristics and provided management between the two groups, none of the preterm infants achieved survival to discharge. On the other hand, 6 of 21 term infants (29%) achieved survival to discharge (P < 0.05). Similar results were obtained for comparisons between the VLBW infants and non‐VLBW infants. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that shorter gestational age had a more negative impact than lower birth weight to survival to discharge in infants with trisomy 18. In both preterm and term groups, the infants who died before 30 days commonly died of respiratory failure or apnea. Whereas, the infants who survived more than 30 days mostly died of heart failure. © 2015 The Authors. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of First Trimester Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening for Fetal Trisomies in the United States

Background

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a relatively new technology for diagnosis of fetal aneuploidies. NIPT is more accurate than conventional maternal serum screening (MSS) but is also more costly. Contingent NIPT may provide a cost-effective alternative to universal NIPT screening. Contingent screening used a two-stage process in which risk is assessed by MSS in the first stage and, based on a risk cutoff, high-risk pregnancies are referred for NIPT. The objective of this study was to (1) determine the optimum MSS risk cutoff for contingent NIPT and (2) compare the cost effectiveness of optimized contingent NIPT to universal NIPT and conventional MSS.

Study Design

Decision-analytic model using micro-simulation and probabilistic sensitivity analysis. We evaluated cost effectiveness from three perspectives: societal, governmental, and payer.

Results

From a societal perspective, universal NIPT dominated both contingent NIPT and MSS. From a government and payer perspective, contingent NIPT dominated MSS. Compared to contingent NIPT, adopting a universal NIPT would cost $203,088 for each additional case detected from a government perspective and $263,922 for each additional case detected from a payer perspective.

Conclusions

From a societal perspective, universal NIPT is a cost-effective alternative to MSS and contingent NIPT. When viewed from narrower perspectives, contingent NIPT is less costly than universal NIPT and provides a cost-effective alternative to MSS.

Retrospective cohort of trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) in southern Brazil

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE

Trisomy 18 (T18), or Edwards syndrome, is a chromosomal disease characterized by a broad clinical picture and a poor prognosis. Our aim was to describe clinical, radiological and survival data of a cohort of patients prenatally diagnosed with T18.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Retrospective single cohort in the Fetal Medicine Service of Hospital Materno Infantil Presidente Vargas (HMIPV).

METHODS

All sequential patients with T18 registered at the Fetal Medicine Service of HMIPV between January 2005 and September 2013 were considered. We gathered their clinical, radiological and survival data and used the Kaplan-Meier test for survival analysis.

RESULTS

Ten patients were diagnosed with T18, of whom seven (70%) were female. The majority (90%) were referred due to malformations seen on ultrasound. The mean gestational age at the first evaluation was 25.5 weeks. At karyotyping, the defects were considered multiple in only four patients (40%). All the fetuses presented full trisomy of chromosome 18. The main abnormality observed was congenital heart disease (n = 7). Intrauterine death occurred in half of the patients (50%). All live patients (n = 5) were born through cesarean section presenting low weight and low Apgar scores. The median length of survival after birth was 18 days.

CONCLUSIONS

T18 is associated with a high risk of fetal and neonatal death. The majority of the patients present major malformations identified through ultrasound, such as congenital heart defects, which could help in identifying such cases prenatally.

Recognizable syndromes in the newborn period

Making the diagnosis of genetic syndromes in the neonatal period can be challenging, as limited information concerning growth and development is available. The pattern of dysmorphic features and malformations is, therefore, correspondingly more important in syndrome recognition. The authors provide specific examples of the differences in the presentation for selected syndromes between the newborn period and later childhood. The purpose is to describe the variation in presentation that can occur with chronologic age and to aid in the early diagnosis of these conditions.

An unexpected finding: younger fathers have a higher risk for offspring with chromosomal aneuploidies

The past decades have seen a remarkable shift in the demographics of childbearing in Western countries. The risk for offspring with chromosomal aneuploidies with advancing maternal age is well known, but most studies failed to demonstrate a paternal age effect. Retrospectively, we analyzed two case data sets containing parental ages from pre- and postnatal cases with trisomies 21, 13 and 18. The reference data set contains the parental ages of the general Swiss population. We dichotomized all couples into two distinct groups. In the first group, the mothers' integral age was as least as the father's age or older. We compared the frequency of cases in nine 5-year intervals of maternal age. In addition, we computed logistic regression models for the binary endpoint aneuploidy yes/no where paternal ages were incorporated as linear or quadratic, as well as smooth functions within a generalized additive model framework. We demonstrated that the proportion of younger fathers is uniformly different between cases and controls of live-born trisomy 21 as well, although not reaching significance, for fetuses over all mother's ages. Logistic regression models with different strategies to incorporate paternal ages confirmed our findings. The negative paternal age effect was also found in pre- and postnatal cases taken together with trisomies 13 and 18. The couples with younger fathers face almost twofold odds for a child with Down syndrome (DS). We estimated odds curves for parental ages. If confirmation of these findings can be achieved, the management of couples at risk needs a major correction of the risk stratification.

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.

Higher limb asymmetry in deceased human fetuses and infants with aneuploidy

Aneuploidies cause gene-dosage imbalances that presumably result in a generalized decreased developmental homeostasis, which is expected to be detectable through an increase in fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of bilateral symmetric traits. However, support for the link between aneuploidy and FA is currently limited and no comparisons among different aneuploidies have been made. Here, we study FA in deceased human fetuses and infants from a 20-year hospital collection. Mean FA of limb bones was compared among groups of aneuploidies with different prenatal and postnatal survival chances and two reference groups (normal karyogram or no congenital anomalies). Limb asymmetry was 1.5 times higher for aneuploid cases with generally very short life expectancies (trisomy 13, trisomy 18, monosomy X, triploidy) than for trisomy 21 patients and both reference groups with higher life expectancies. Thus, FA levels are highest in groups for which developmental disturbances have been highest. Our results show a significant relationship between fluctuating asymmetry, human genetic disorders and severity of the associated abnormalities.

The natural history of pregnancies with a diagnosis of trisomy 18 or trisomy 13; a retrospective case series

BACKGROUND

Trisomy 18 (T18) and trisomy 13 (T13) are the second and third commonest autosomal aneuploidy syndromes respectively. While specific aspects of affected pregnancies have been documented in the literature, few studies document the overall natural history of the trisomies. This study aimed to examine the natural history (including diagnosis, pregnancy outcome, complications and survival) of T18 and T13 pregnancies in a setting where termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality is not available.

METHODS

Cases were identified using birth registers, labour ward records, annual reports, medical records, ultrasound reports and reports from prenatal genetic testing. All identified T18 and T13 pregnancies in the study region from 2001 to 2012 were included. Individual chart reviews were performed for each case. Data were analysed using SPSS Version 20.

RESULTS

Forty-six T18 and twenty-four T13 pregnancies were identified. Most T18 cases (65%) were diagnosed prenatally, while only one third (33%) of T13 cases were prenatally diagnosed. Only three T18 pregnancies and one T13 pregnancy were electively terminated. A proportion of undiagnosed infants were delivered by emergency caesarean section. 48% (T18) and 46% (T13) infants survived following birth, for a median of 1.5 days (T18) and 7 days (T13). One T13 infant is currently alive over one year of age.

CONCLUSIONS

This large series provides information for professionals and women regarding the natural histories of trisomies 18 and 13. These pregnancies can go undiagnosed antenatally without routine anomaly scanning. While many fetuses die in-utero, postnatal survival is possible.

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.

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.

Major chromosomal anomalies among very low birth weight infants in the Vermont Oxford Network

OBJECTIVE

To examine prevalence, characteristics, interventions, and mortality of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with trisomy 21 (T21), trisomy 18 (T18), trisomy 13 (T13), or triploidy.

STUDY DESIGN

Infants with birth weight 401-1500 g admitted to centers of the Vermont Oxford Network during 1994-2009 were studied. A majority of the analyses are presented as descriptive data. Median survival times and their 95% CIs were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier approach.

RESULTS

Of 539 509 VLBW infants, 1681 (0.31%) were diagnosed with T21, 1416 (0.26%) with T18, 435 (0.08%) with T13, and 116 (0.02%) with triploidy. Infants with T18 were the most likely to be growth restricted (79.7%). Major surgery was reported for 30.4% of infants with T21, 9.2% with T18, 6.4% with T13, and 4.8% with triploidy. Hospital mortality occurred among 33.1% of infants with T21, 89.0% with T18, 92.4% with T13, and 90.5% with triploidy. Median survival time was 4 days (95% CI, 3-4) among infants with T18 and 3 days (95% CI, 2-4) among both infants with T13 and infants with triploidy.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort of VLBW infants, survival among infants with T18, T13, or triploidy was very poor. This information can be used to counsel families.