Increased nuchal translucency is associated with large for gestational age neonates in singleton pregnancies

To evaluate the correlation between sonographic measurements of nuchal translucency (NT) and neonatal birth weight in non-diabetic population.

A retrospective analysis was performed on all singleton term pregnancies delivered at our hospital between 2004 and 2008. Data collected included maternal age, parity, NT measurement, results of glucose challenge test, birth weight, gestational age at delivery, and fetal gender.

The study population comprised of 1649 patients. The mean NT was 1.3 ± 0.5 mm. Male fetuses had a significantly thicker NT (1.3 ± 0.5 vs. 1.2 ± 0.4; P<0.001). NT significantly correlated to birth weight (P=0.002). This correlation was independent of neonatal gender. The median NT in the large for gestational age (LGA) neonates was significantly higher than in the non-LGA neonates (1.4 mm vs. 1.2 mm, P=0.001). Equations for the predicted probability for delivering LGA neonates were derived using either NT alone or in combination with parity. An increase in 0.1 mm in the NT has the odd ratio of 1.042 for delivering an LGA neonate (P=0.02).

NT correlated with LGA neonates in term non-diabetic patients. This correlation was independent of the neonatal gender. The predictive clinical impact of NT was limited to LGA neonates.