Prenatal detection of coarctation of the aorta in a non-selected population: A prospective analysis of 10 years of experience

Objectives The aim of our prospective study was to assess the ability of different parameters to identify fetuses requiring neonatal care for coarctation of the aorta (CoA). Methods Between January 2003 and December 2012, 175 fetuses of our region referred for great vessel disproportion (pulmonary valve/aortic valve (AoV) diameter ratio ≥ 1.6) were divided into two groups: group A ( n  = 51) with high risk of CoA and delivery planned in tertiary care referral center; group B ( n  = 124) with no increased risk of CoA. Fetuses with Z-score aortic valve AoV  Results In group A, diagnosis of CoA was confirmed in 38/51 (75%) and isolated CoA in 22/34 (65%). In group B, 2/124 had CoA (false negative rate 1.6%). In univariate analysis, except for the LSVC, all parameters were significant ( P Conclusion The results of our prospective study are in agreement with those of previous series but our false positive rate is lower and not influenced by gestational age. The performance of fetal cardiac screening does not seem to be very good but prenatal diagnosis is probably not always possible: our 2 false negative cases had vascular disproportion without any other risk factors.