Background: In the entire population, an aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) is closely associated with chromosomal abnormalities. ARSA with additional ultrasonic findings would increase risk of chromosomal abnormalities. The risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities increased exponentially with the maternal age. These risks in the advanced maternal age (AMA) group are uncertain. This study aimed to determine the incidence of ARSA in Chinese AMA and non-AMA women and the frequency of aneuploidy among AMA and non-AMA women with ARSA.
Methods: This retrospective study included 13,690 singleton pregnancies, were divided into AMA and non-AMA groups. Integrated obstetric ultrasonic screening, biochemical screening, noninvasive prenatal screening, and fetal karyotype analysis were analyzed.
Results: The overall incidence of ARSA was 0.69%, with no difference between age groups. The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in the AMA group (37 / 2860) was much higher than that of the non-AMA group. The risk of chromosomal abnormalities significantly increased with both ARSA detected and additional ultrasound findings. With combined ARSA and AMA, the likelihood of the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities increased. Chimerism (45X / 46XX) was found with isolated ARSA in AMA pregnancies.
Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities in fetuses of AMA women. ARSA increases the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in both age groups, especially combined with ARSA. When ARSA occurs in AMA women, it confers a high likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities.
Keywords: Aberrant right subclavian artery; Advanced maternal age; Chromosomal abnormalities; Fetus; Ultrasonography.