Is EIF a marker for Down syndrome?

Is EIF a marker for Down syndrome?

Two studies performed in low-risk patients demonstrated an isolated EIF in only one of 626 Down syndrome fetuses. Both studies concluded that isolated EIF was not a marker for Down syndrome in low-risk patients (21,839 total patients).

How serious is echogenic intracardiac focus?

An echogenic intracardiac focus (or EIF) is a small bright spot seen on a developing baby’s heart during an ultrasound. The cause of EIF is unknown, but the condition is generally harmless. EIF is considered a normal pregnancy variation, but prenatal screening tests may be desirable to test for any abnormalities.

How much does EIF increase risk of Down syndrome?

In the setting of an isolated EIF in low-risk pa- tients under the age of 35 years, the current evidence supports the use of a positive LR between 1.5 and 2.0 at most. Thus, a patient with a baseline risk of Down syn- drome of 1 in 1000 should be quoted a risk of between 1 in 667 to 1 in 500.

Does EIF go away on its own?

Will the EIF go away? Most EIF seen in the middle of the pregnancy will not go away before delivery. Since they do not cause problems for the baby, there is no special concern if they are still visible at a later time. For this reason, no ultrasound follow-up is needed to watch for changes in the EIF.

How do you treat intracardiac echogenic focus?

There is no treatment for an echogenic intracardiac focus. In most cases, additional tests are not needed. The four chambers of your baby’s heart will be looked at during the ultrasound.

Does echogenic intracardiac focus disappear?

The echogenic intracardiac focus is usually caught on an ultrasound examination in the first trimester ( about 14 weeks of pregnancy). In some cases, the condition disappears by the time the pregnant woman comes in for her next ultrasound in the second trimester.

What causes calcium on baby’s heart?

The cause of an echogenic intracardiac focus is unknown. It is possible that calcium deposits in the muscle wall of the ventricles may cause these spots. Calcium is a natural mineral found in the body. Areas of the body that have more calcium, such as bones, show up brighter on an ultrasound.

How common is echogenic focus?

It is a relatively frequent occurrence on prenatal ultrasounds. It is usually a small deposit of calcium which has found its way into the region and is fairly common for ultrasounds conducted in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. One in five babies seem to have at least one echogenic intracardiac focus.

Do they check for Down syndrome at 20 week scan?

Dr. Robyn Horsager-Boehrer explains step-by-step what obstetricians are looking for when they conduct 18- to 20-week ultrasounds on pregnant women. You’ll see as they check for birth defects such as Down syndrome and spina bifida.

How important is a cardiac echogenic focus in a routine fetal examination?

Fetuses with an echogenic intracardiac focus have a significantly increased risk of Down syndrome. Although most fetuses with this finding are normal, patients carrying fetuses with an echogenic intracardiac focus should be counseled about the increased risk of trisomy 21.