Ultrascreen abnormalities

I had my ultrascreen last week and my dr called me today and said my results were borderline abnormal...something about the cutoff of abnormal being 290 and my odds are 1 in 288. Should i be worried??? im totally freaking out here cause i have no idea what that means. i asked him if i should be worried and he said absolutely not and that he just has to give me the results and explain, but he's my dr so i feel like he HAS to say that. he said i have a few options...i can do nothing and move on...i can wait until the 2nd half of my ultrascreen in 2 weeks and see what happens then...or elect to have the amnio. im only 31 and theres no downs syndrome in either side of the family so im very confused.

anyone have something similar happen to them?

Re: Ultrascreen abnormalities

Did you have the 16 week blood test in conjunction with the 12 week blood test and ultrasound or is it just the 12 week tests?

Do you want to have a CVS test done? It can be performed after 12 weeks. The amnio can be performed at 16 weeks. It really depends upon what you will do with the information. That is, an amnio will tell you what you are up against, if anything at all, and a CVS will also tell you but with a little less certainty. After you have the info what ever you decide it is an extremely personal decision, I wish you lots of good luck and strength.

ETA: What the 1 in 288 means is that for every 288 live births one of those children will have downs, trisomy 18 or 13. You should ask if your risk is the same for trisomy 18 and 13. I am also 31. For a woman who is 31 and did not have the 12 week nunchal tube u/s and blood test I think the average results are 1 in 532. That is what they told me at my u/s. I would ask them what the skin fold measurement is. I was told anything greater than 3 means that the baby has a higher risk for downs. I hope this info helps.

Message edited 4/6/2009 7:54:01 PM.

Re: Ultrascreen abnormalities

Try to calm down. This is just a screening. Not a diagnostic test. This just means that you may be at a higher risk of having a baby with Down Sydrome, Trisomy 13 or Trisomy 18. This does not mean there is a problem with the baby it just may warrant further testing. But 1:288 is really not bad at all. Yes we all want 1:10,000. But if you look at the number you have a less then 1% chance of there being a problem. I would just ttry to relax (hard I know) and wait for the second half of the testing. Just make sure to get the testing done at the same lab for the most accurate results. you can also opt to have the 16week genetic scan. Good luck and remember less then 1% odds of there being a problem

Re: Ultrascreen abnormalities

We just went through this - the fold measured 3.4 - above 3 is a sign for downs - after hearing that they said we could stop the test and just get an amino.

We decided to keep going with the test - normally my age is 1/661 but for me it came to 1/574 when they combined the blood - so for me it is not worth going forward with the aminio

Re: Ultrascreen abnormalities

Re: Ultrascreen abnormalities

Posted by waiting4ablessing

Posted by LSP2005

Did you have the 16 week blood test in conjunction with the 12 week blood test and ultrasound or is it just the 12 week tests?

i just had the 12 week ultrasound and blood test. i go back for the 2nd half of the ultrascreen in 2 weeks. the dr just kept saying that i shouldnt be worried and that my odds are still good. so im trying hard to stay calm but all i end up doing is crying.

i really regret having the test at all. i now feel like the joy has been $ucked out of my pregnancy and that i'll just be worrying and upset for the next 6 months.

Re: Ultrascreen abnormalities

what i dont get is that when we had the 1st part of the u/s done last week, the tech said everything looked good from the measurements she took. so i dont know what the blood tests say that would suddenly make my test results abnormal.

i dont want to do any more tests. i feel like i'll just go even more crazy. i plan on continuing on and hoping and praying for the best. i will just keep telling myself that there is always room for error.

Re: Ultrascreen abnormalities

My odds were 1 and 7.. I did the amnio and everything is perfect. praise God. I am also older.. My Dr said this meant 80% everything is good.. So what % would you be in and look at it that way.. Then make a decision..

Re: Ultrascreen abnormalities

Based upon your age your risk of having a child with Down Syndrome is around 1/800 (ish)...

B/C of the results of your ultrascreen a computer has indicated that your risk for having a child with Down Syndrome has increased...The data that would have been entered into this program for analysis is the babies NT, your blood results, your age, and the gestational age of the baby....

Do you know what the babies NT was? In most circumstances, had the babies NT been high, which is indicative of a chromosomal anomaly you usually would have known about it before the rest of the results had been in...Let's put it this way..if the babies NT was normal and the increased risk is coming from the blood work...I wouldnt be all that concerned.

If you want to ask me any questions feel free to FM me...or google some posts on Down Syndrome that Ive answered....Im not an authority but my eldest daughter has Down Syndrome and Im pretty well versed on the subject...

PS...Most cases of Down Syndrome arent hereditary. It's not like hemophelia or CF...It wouldnt be something that would run in your family.

Re: Ultrascreen abnormalities

bump

Re: Ultrascreen abnormalities

I just got back my results the other day. The doctor said i'm at a higher risk for my ages group (im 31) and my risk is 1/120. My NT results looked normal and this comes from the blood results. He told me to come in for the 16 week screening and from those results we can determine if I want to have an amnio done. I hope everything turns out Ok!

Re: Ultrascreen abnormalities

I can imagine how unsettling this is, I would probably be worried as well. However, as all the other posters have said, this test just assesses your risk-it is not definitive. And, the results show that your risk of having a healthy baby is still 99%-very very good odds.

The worry of a parent starts early

Re: Ultrascreen abnormalities

ok so i called the dr's office to get specifics and they said the baby's NT measured at 1mm and that anything thats greater than 3 is considered abnormal. so they said its my bloodwork thats making my results abnormal. they said i tested fine for trisomy 13 and 18, it was just the down syndrome results that were borderline. i feel better, still worrysome of course, but 1 in 288 are still pretty good odds.

but now im contemplating whether or not i want to continue with the 2nd half of the ultrascreen. if that comes back abnormal too then i'll just be a mess all over again. at this point we are taking whatever God blesses us with so its really a moot point. i just dont want to be stressed for the next 6 months over something i cant control.

Re: Ultrascreen abnormalities

Posted by CrankyPants

I can imagine how unsettling this is, I would probably be worried as well. However, as all the other posters have said, this test just assesses your risk-it is not definitive. And, the results show that your risk of having a healthy baby is still 99%-very very good odds.

The worry of a parent starts early

Re: Ultrascreen abnormalities

This is just a screening test and if the results put you at a higher risk the dr would recommend genetic counseling and the amnio.
BTW i don't believe you can do the amnio till 16 weeks anyways and the second part of the genetic screening tests can be done starting at 18 weeks.
I was in sortof the same kind of situation you were and decided to wait till the sono at 18 weeks and i could always get the amnio after that.
If you have any questions or need anything feel free to FM me.

Re: Ultrascreen abnormalities

In my OB's office the cutoff for "abnormal" is 1 in 270 so your results would be normal there - your risk is still very low. Do whatever makes you comfortable - if additional testing would make you feel better, go for it...but if it only makes your worry more, skip it.

Lots of