Diagnostic Value of Chromosomal Microarray Analysis for Fetal Congenital Heart Defects with Different Cardiac Phenotypes and Extracardiac Abnormalities

Abstract

(1) Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) for congenital heart defects (CHDs) with different cardiac phenotypes and extracardiac abnormalities (ECAs) and to explore the pathogenic genetic factors of CHDs. (2) Methods: We collected fetuses diagnosed with CHDs by echocardiography at our hospital from January 2012 to December 2021. We analyzed the CMA results of 427 fetuses with CHDs. We then categorized the CHD into different groups according to two dimensions: different cardiac phenotypes and whether it was combined with ECAs. The correlation between the numerical chromosomal abnormalities (NCAs) and copy number variations (CNVs) with CHDs was analyzed. Statistical analyses, including Chi-square tests and t-tests, were performed on the data using IBM SPSS and GraphPad Prism. (3) Results: In general, CHDs with ECAs increased the detection rate for CA, especially the conotruncal defects. CHD combined with the thoracic and abdominal walls and skeletal, thymic and multiple ECAs, were more likely to exhibit CA. Among the CHD phenotypes, VSD and AVSD were associated with NCA, while DORV may be associated with NCA. The cardiac phenotypes associated with pCNVs were IAA (type A and B), RAA, TAPVC, CoA and TOF. In addition, IAA, B, RAA, PS, CoA and TOF were also associated with 22q11.2DS. The length distribution of the CNV was not significantly different between each CHD phenotype. We detected twelve CNV syndromes, of which six syndromes may be related to CHDs. The pregnancy outcome in this study suggests that termination of pregnancy with fetal VSD and vascular abnormality is more dependent on genetic diagnosis, whereas the outcome in other phenotypes of CHDs may be associated with other additional factors. (4) Conclusions: CMA examination for CHDs is still necessary. We should identify the existence of fetal ECAs and specific cardiac phenotypes, which are helpful for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.

Keywords

• congenital heart defects
• chromosomal microarray analysis
• ultrasound
• prenatal diagnosis