Key result
ART shows similar rates of major fetal CHDs compared to natural conception.
Why the study?
It was unknown whether there is a higher rate of major fetal congenital heart diseases at first-trimester scan in pregnancies conceived by assisted reproductive technology.
Does assisted reproductive technology increase the rate of major fetal congenital heart diseases at first-trimester scan in singleton pregnancies?
Observational (n=20,009)
Does assisted reproductive technology increase the rate of major fetal congenital heart diseases at first-trimester scan in singleton pregnancies?
Absolute Event Rate: 0.7% vs 0.5%
p-value: p=0.47
Assisted reproductive technology is not associated with a higher rate of major fetal congenital heart diseases detectable at the end of the first trimester compared to natural conception.
ART not associated with higher first-trimester major CHD rates; leaves open need for larger prospective confirmation.
Objective To determine whether there is a higher rate of major fetal congenital heart diseases (CHDs) at first‐trimester scan in pregnancies conceived by assisted reproductive technology (ART). Methods A retrospective study was conducted from 2014 to 2022. It included 20,009 singleton pregnancies undergoing ultrasound between 11 and 15 weeks for first‐trimester aneuploidy screening or referral for suspected fetal abnormality. Fetal heart assessment was performed through sequential analysis. In cases of CHDs, extracardiac malformations, or other risk factors for major aneuploidies, fetal karyotype evaluation was conducted. CHDs were categorized as major or minor. Results A CHD was diagnosed in 133 (0.7%) of 18,532 natural pregnancies and 14 (0.9%) of 1477 ART pregnancies. The prevalence of major CHDs in natural pregnancies was 0.5%, with no significant difference compared to ART pregnancies (0.7%; p = 0.47). Overall, 48 CHD cases (43.2%) were associated with extracardiac abnormalities, with no differences between natural and ART pregnancies ( p = 0.38). The frequency of abnormal karyotype and isolated CHDs (normal karyotype and no extracardiac abnormalities) also did not differ. Conclusion The rate of major CHDs detectable at the end of the first trimester does not differ between ART and natural pregnancies.
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Ramezzana et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Fetal congenital heart disease (n=20,009). Assisted reproductive technology (ART) vs. Natural pregnancies was evaluated on Major fetal congenital heart diseases (CHDs) (p=0.47). Assisted reproductive technology was not associated with a higher rate of major fetal congenital heart diseases at first-trimester scan compared to natural pregnancies (0.7% vs 0.5%; p=0.47).
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