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Published on: December 22, 2023
Pregnancy outcome of embryonic/fetal pleural effusion in the first trimester
Kazumasa Hashimoto1, Takashi Shimizu, Misao Fukuda
1Department of Obstetrics, Osaka Medical Center, Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Izumi, Japan. hashi@gyne.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Objective:
To investigate the incidence of embryonic/fetal pleural effusion in the first trimester and its pregnancy outcome.
Methods:
A total of 965 viable singleton pregnancies confirmed by sonography between 7 and 10 weeks were examined to estimate the incidence of embryonic/fetal pleural effusion. When initial transvaginal sonography showed pleural effusion, serial ultrasound examinations were performed.
Results:
Pleural effusion was detected in 12 pregnancies (incidence, 1.2%; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-2.2), which involved bilateral thoracic cavities in all cases. The pregnancy outcome was assessed among 14 cases of pleural effusion, including 2 previously reported cases from the same institution. Among these, 12 pregnancies (86%) miscarried by 14 weeks' gestation. Karyotype was abnormal in 9 (82%) of 11 cases in which chromosomal analysis was successfully performed. Of these, 6 (67%) were 45,X.
Conclusions:
The results suggested that embryonic/fetal pleural effusion in early pregnancy was associated with poor pregnancy outcome such as spontaneous abortion and chromosomal abnormality.
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