Original Paper

Termination rates after prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, spina bifida, anencephaly, and Turner and Klinefelter syndromes: a systematic literature review

  1. Caroline Mansfield†,
  2. Suellen Hopfer,
  3. Theresa M. Marteau*

Article first published online: 22 SEP 1999

DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0223(199909)19:9<808::AID-PD637>3.0.CO;2-B

Issue

Prenatal Diagnosis

Prenatal Diagnosis

Volume 19, Issue 9, pages 808–812, September 1999

Additional Information

How to Cite

Mansfield, C., Hopfer, S. and Marteau, T. M. (1999), Termination rates after prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, spina bifida, anencephaly, and Turner and Klinefelter syndromes: a systematic literature review. Prenatal Diagnosis, 19: 808–812. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0223(199909)19:9<808::AID-PD637>3.0.CO;2-B

Author Information

  1. Psychology and Genetics Research Group, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Medical School (King's College), Guy's Campus, London, SE1 9RT, UK.

  1. †

    All authors writing on behalf of a European Concerted Action: DADA (Decision-making After the Diagnosis of a fetal Abnormality)

*Psychology and Genetics Research Group, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Medical School (King's College), Guy's Campus, London, SE1 9RT, UK.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 SEP 1999
  2. Article first published online: 22 SEP 1999
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 30 MAR 1999
  4. Manuscript Revised: 18 MAR 1999
  5. Manuscript Received: 30 NOV 1998

Funded by

  • European Union. Grant Number: BioMed II programme
  • Wellcome Trust

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Keywords:

  • Down syndrome;
  • Klinefelter syndrome;
  • spina bifida;
  • anencephaly;
  • Turner syndrome;
  • prenatal diagnosis;
  • termination

Abstract

The aims of this systematic literature review are to estimate termination rates after prenatal diagnosis of one of five conditions: Down syndrome, spina bifida, anencephaly, and Turner and Klinefelter syndromes, and to determine the extent to which rates vary across conditions and with year of publication. Papers were included if they reported (i) numbers of prenatally diagnosed conditions that were terminated, (ii) at least five cases diagnosed with one of the five specified conditions, and (iii) were published between 1980 and 1998. 20 papers were found which met the inclusion criteria. Termination rates varied across conditions. They were highest following a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome (92 per cent; CI: 91 per cent to 93 per cent) and lowest following diagnosis of Klinefelter syndrome (58 per cent; CI: 50 per cent to 66 per cent). Where comparisons could be made, termination rates were similar in the 1990s to those reported in the 1980s. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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