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Obstetrics & Gynecology 2006;107:877-879
© 2006 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Fetal Pyelectasis

Does Fetal Gender Modify the Risk of Major Trisomies?

Eran Bornstein, MD1, Yoni Barnhard, MD1, Alan Donnenfeld, MD2, Asaf Ferber, MD1 and Michael Y. Divon, MD1

From the 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lenox-Hill Hospital, New York, New York; and 2Genzyme Genetics, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


   ABSTRACT
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ABSTRACT
MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
OBJECTIVE: Several studies have noted an increased prevalence of pyelectasis in male fetuses. It is speculated that pyelectasis represents a normal physiologic variant in males, whereas its presence in females indicates an increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities. Thus, we sought to investigate the association between fetal gender and the risk of major trisomies in fetuses with pyelectasis.

METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a Genzyme Genetics amniocentesis database (1995 to 2004) was performed. Specimens obtained after an ultrasonographic finding of pyelectasis were eligible for analysis. The prevalence of major trisomies (trisomy 13, 18, or 21) in male and female fetuses with pyelectasis was compared using binomial distribution.

RESULTS: A total of 760,495 amniocentesis specimens were analyzed. Fetal pyelectasis was reported in 671 cases. A male predominance, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.14:1 (457 compared with 214) was statistically significant (P < .001). A major trisomy was detected in 26 male fetuses (5.7%): 18 cases of trisomy 21, 2 cases of trisomy 18, and 6 cases of trisomy 13. Nine female fetuses had a major trisomy (4.2%): 6 cases of trisomy 21 and 3 cases of trisomy 13. There was no significant difference in the overall prevalence of trisomies between male and female fetuses (P = .14).

CONCLUSION: We concur with previous studies documenting a higher prevalence of pyelectasis in male fetuses. In addition, our results indicate that the prevalence of major trisomies among fetuses with pyelectasis is unlikely to be dependent on fetal gender. Thus, counseling patients with regard to the genetic implications of fetal pyelectasis should be gender independent.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2

The prenatal genetic ultrasonogram has been used extensively in evaluating the risk of aneuploidy. Incorporation of soft ultrasonographic markers of aneuploidy, such as renal pyelectasis, echogenic bowel, echogenic intracardiac focus, choroid plexus cyst, and thickening of the nuchal fold has decreased the need for amniocentesis in high-risk populations without compromising screening efficacy.1 Several studies have evaluated the association of fetal gender and the distribution of these markers. Pyelectasis was the only ultrasonographic marker that demonstrated a gender difference, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 2:1. The association of pyelectasis with aneuploidy is well established. Nevertheless, it is speculated that in the majority of male fetuses the presence of pyelectasis represents either a normal physiologic variant or occurs secondary to anatomic abnormalities such as a posterior urethral valve. Consequently, some investigators have hypothesized that the presence of pyelectasis in a female fetus is indicative of a greater risk of aneuploidy.8,9 Chudleigh et al8 concluded that "there was a trend toward higher prevalence of aneuploidy in female fetuses with mild pyelectasis." A similar conclusion was reached by Nicolaides et al,9 suggesting increased aneuploidy risk in female fetuses with pyelectasis. Recently, Wax et al10 confirmed the observation that pyelectasis demonstrates an increased prevalence in male fetuses. However, the study population was too small for the authors to draw conclusions regarding the association of pyelectasis, fetal gender, and aneuploidy. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of major chromosomal trisomies in male and female fetuses with pyelectasis.


   MATERIALS AND METHODS
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ABSTRACT
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
The database comprised all amniocentesis specimens processed in the Genzyme Genetics Orange, California and Santa Fe, New Mexico laboratories between 1995 and 2004. Pertinent information was entered into a computerized database that included the indication for testing, maternal age, and the karyotype. Gender was uniformly determined by karyotype analysis. The study population consisted of all amniocentesis specimens obtained after an ultrasonographic finding of pyelectasis (whether it was an isolated finding or in combination with other markers) that had either a normal karyotype or a major trisomy such as trisomy 13, trisomy 18, or trisomy 21. Multifetal pregnancies were excluded.

The prevalence of a major trisomy in male and female fetuses with pyelectasis was compared with the use of binomial distribution. Continuous variables were compared with the use of unpaired Student t tests. P values less than .05 were considered statistically significant. Statistical analysis was performed with the True Epistat 5.3 software package (Epistat Services Inc, Richardson, TX).

The study received an "exempt review" status from the Institutional Review Board.


   RESULTS
TOP
ABSTRACT
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
A total of 760,495 second-trimester amniocentesis specimens were available for analysis. Fetal pyelectasis was reported in 690 cases (0.09%). Eleven male fetuses and 8 female fetuses were excluded from further analysis secondary to abnormal karyotypes other than trisomy 13, 18, or 21. Six hundred seventy-one (n = 671) cases of renal pyelectasis were eligible for analysis: 457 (68.1%) were male fetuses, and 214 (31.9%) were female fetuses. Three hundred twenty (n = 320) cases had isolated pyelectasis: 220 (68.8%) were male fetuses, and 100 (31.2%) were female fetuses. Pyelectasis occurring with other abnormalities (nonisolated) was observed in 351 fetuses: 237 (67.5%) male fetuses and 114 (32.5%) female fetuses. Maternal age for male and female fetuses with pyelectasis was 29.5 ± 6.1 and 29.4 ± 6.3 years, respectively (P = .78). The gender distribution within the study population is presented in Table 1.


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  		Table 1. Gender Distribution Within the Study Population

 

The male predominance, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.14:1 (457 compared with 214) was statistically significant (P < .001). Likewise, a statistically significant male predominance with a male-to-female ratio of 2.2:1 and 2.08:1 was detected in the groups of isolated and the nonisolated pyelectasis, respectively (P < .001).

A major trisomy was detected in 26 male fetuses (5.7%): 18 cases of trisomy 21, 2 cases of trisomy 18, and 6 cases of trisomy 13. Nine female fetuses had a trisomy (4.2%): 6 cases of trisomy 21 and 3 cases of trisomy 13. There was no significant difference in the overall prevalence of major trisomies between male and female fetuses with pyelectasis (P = .14). Among the fetuses with isolated pyelectasis, 3 male fetuses (1.4%) and none of the female fetuses (0%) had a major trisomy (P = .25). In the subgroup of fetuses with nonisolated pyelectasis, 23 male fetuses (9.7%) and 9 female fetuses (7.9%) had a major trisomy (P = .11). The distribution of major trisomies within the study population is presented in Table 2.


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  		Table 2. Distribution of Major Trisomies Within the Study Population

 


   DISCUSSION
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ABSTRACT
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
REFERENCES
 
The male-to-female ratio of 2.14:1 in our population is similar to the ratio previously reported by other investigators.4,8,10 In addition, our results indicate that the association between pyelectasis and major trisomies is unlikely to be gender dependent.

Benacerraf and associates5 were the first to investigate gender-specific ultrasonographic markers in fetuses with trisomy 21. Their study population included only 15 fetuses with pyelectasis. They did not find a significant difference in the prevalence of pyelectasis between male and female fetuses. Hence, they concluded that "criteria for evaluation of ultrasonographic markers for the identification of second-trimester fetuses with Down syndrome should be the same in male and female fetuses." Our results, based on a much larger study population, support Benacerraf’s conclusions. Recently, Wax et al10 conducted a study to determine the association of ultrasonographic markers with fetal gender. Pyelectasis was the only marker to demonstrate a male predominance. Their study population included only 3 fetuses with a major trisomy complicated with pyelectasis. The hypothesis that pyelectasis carries a higher aneuploidy risk in female fetuses could not be properly assessed, because the number of cases of pyelectasis and aneuploidy was too small.

Our study differs from several previous studies that evaluated the effect of gender on the risk of aneuploidy in fetuses with pyelectasis. In previous studies a karyotype analysis was not routinely performed, and chromosomal abnormalities were largely derived from pediatric reports. In contrast, we used a well-documented, large database of 760,495 amniocentesis specimens. In addition, our determination of fetal gender is based on the amniocentesis data, whereas other studies relied on less accurate information such as prenatal ultrasonographic evaluation or retrospective, postpartum data collection.

Similar to most previous studies on this topic, our study has limitations that are mainly the result of its retrospective design. The study population is based on fetuses with an ultrasonographic diagnosis of pyelectasis who underwent amniocentesis. The initial ultrasonographic evaluation that detected pyelectasis was performed by multiple providers in multiple centers. However, fetal pyelectasis is the most common anomaly identified on prenatal ultrasonography, which makes its detection and assessment relatively simple. In addition, despite the relatively large study population (N = 671), a power analysis indicates that a study population of at least 18,760 fetuses would be necessary to draw a definitive conclusion regarding the effect of fetal gender in fetuses with pyelectasis on the risk of major trisomies.

In summary, we believe that it is reasonable to assume that the prevalence of trisomy 13, 18, or 21 among fetuses with pyelectasis is unlikely to be dependent on fetal gender. Therefore, we suggest that counseling patients with regard to the genetic implications of fetal pyelectasis should be gender independent.


   Footnotes
 
Corresponding author: Eran Bornstein, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lenox-Hill Hospital 100 East 77th Street, New York, NY 10021; e-mail: eranbor{at}yahoo.com.

doi:10.1097/01.AOG.0000206717.66776.a9


   REFERENCES
TOP
ABSTRACT
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
1. Pinette MG, Garrett J, Salvo A, Blackstone J, Pinette SG, Boutin N, et al. Normal midtrimester (17–20 weeks) genetic sonogram decreases amniocentesis rate in a high-risk population. J Ultrasound Med 2001;20:639–44.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

2. Lockwood CJ, Lynch L, Ghidini A, Lapinski R, Berkowitz G, Thayer B, et al. The effect of fetal gender on the prediction of Down syndrome by means of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and ultrasonographic parameters. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1993;169:1190–7.[Medline]

3. Smulian JC, Campbell WA, Rodis JF, Feeney LD, Fabbri EL, Vintzileos AM. Gender-specific second-trimester biometry. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1995;173:1195–201.[Medline]

4. Ismaili K, Hall M, Donner C, Thomas D, Vermeylen D, Avni FE, et al. Results of systemic screening for minor degrees of fetal renal pelvis dilatation in an unselected population. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:242–246.[Medline]

5. Benacerraf BR, Miller WA, Nadel A, Pauker S, Bromley B. Does gender have an impact on the sonographic detection of second-trimester fetuses with Down’s syndrome? Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 1995;5:30–3.[Medline]

6. Adra AM, Mejides AA, Dennaoui MS, Beydoun SN. Fetal pyelectasis: is it always "physiologic"? Am J Obstet Gynecol 1995;173:1263–6.[Medline]

7. Dudley JA, Haworth JM, McGraw ME, Frank JD, Tizard EJ. Clinical relevance and implications of antenatal hydronephrosis. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 1997;76:F31–4.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

8. Chudleigh PM, Chitty LS, Pembrey M, Campbell S. The association of aneuploidy and mild fetal pyelectasis in an unselected population: the results of a multicenter study. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2001;17:197–202.[Medline]

9. Nicolaides KH, Cheng HH, Abbas A, Snijders RJ, Gosden C. Fetal renal defects: associated malformations and chromosomal defects. Fetal Diagn Ther 1992;7:1–11.[Medline]

10. Wax JR, Cartin A, Pinette MG, Blackstone J. Does the frequency of soft sonographic aneuploidy markers vary by fetal sex? J Ultrasound Med 2005;24:1059–63.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

11. Persutte WH, Koyle M, Lenke RR, Klas J, Ryan C, Hobbins JC. Mild pyelectasis ascertained with prenatal ultrasonography is pediatrically significant. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 1997;10:12–8.[Medline]

12. Havutcu AE, Nikolopoulos G, Adinkra P, Lamont RF. The association between fetal pyelectasis on second trimester ultrasound scan and aneuploidy among 25,586 low risk unselected women. Prenat Diagn 2002;22:1201–6.[Medline]

13. Corteville JE, Gray DL, Crane JP. Congenital hydronephrosis: correlation of fetal ultrasonographic findings with infant outcome. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1991;165:384–8.[Medline]

14. Broadley P, McHugo J, Morgan I, Whittle MJ, Kilby MD. The 4 year outcome following the demonstration of bilateral renal pelvic dilatation on pre-natal renal ultrasound. Br J Radiol 1999;72:265–70.[Abstract]





This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
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Right arrow Articles by Bornstein, E.
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Right arrow Articles by Bornstein, E.
Right arrow Articles by Divon, M. Y.
Related Collections
Right arrow Genetics and teratology
Right arrow Prenatal Diagnosis
Right arrow Ultrasound/doppler

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