Baby with Down Syndrome
Down syndrome markers are indications, on an ultrasound, that a fetus may have down syndrome. Down syndrome markers found on ultrasounds are controversial, because the markers may occur in fetuses without down syndrome. The markers are not always reliable. Common markers used to identify down syndrome include echogenic bowel, echogenic intracardiac focus, dilation of the kidneys, nuchal translucency, and a flattened nasal bridge.
The most accurate test for determining down syndrome is an amniocentesis. Due to the increased risk of miscarriage from amniocentesis, screenings such as blood tests and down syndrome markers from an ultrasound are sometimes used in combination as an alternative way to identify down syndrome in unborn fetuses.
Instructions
1. Echogenic bowel is a brightening or white appearance of the bowel area on an ultrasound done in the second trimester of pregnancy.
2. Echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) is a small white spot seen in the area of the fetuses heart during ultrasound. EIF typically resolves itself by the third trimester and is not always an indicator of future heart problems.
3. Dilatation of the kidneys, or pyelctasis, is more common in male fetuses than in female fetuses and in most cases resolves normally prior to birth.
4. Nuchal transluceny, is found by a nuchal fold scan. It measures the clear or translucent space in the back of the developing fetuses neck.
5. Recently, the nasal bridge is being looked at as a possible down syndrome marker in the developing fetus. Babies and children with down syndrome tend to have flat nasal bridges.
Tags: down syndrome, syndrome markers, down syndrome, Down syndrome, Down syndrome markers, identify down
