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7153813 
Journal Article 
Hyperechogenic fetal bowel: Which fetal and neonatal outcome? A French study of 149 cases 
Bleu, G; Coulon, C; Vaast, P; Bourgeot, P; Sfeir, R; Boute, O; Houfflin-Debarge, V; , 
2015 
Journal de Gynécologie Obstétrique et Biologie de la Reproduction
ISSN: 0368-2315 
ELSEVIER MASSON, CORPORATION OFFICE 
PARIS 
44 
558-564 
French 
Objectives.-In case of hyperechogenic fetal bowel (HFB), invasive procedures such as amniocentesis are often proposed to detect an underlying cause. Our goal is to study etiologies and prognosis of HFB according to antenatal sonographic findings in order to evaluate the relevance of antenatal assessment.Materials and methods. It is a retrospective monocentric study lead from 2008 to 2012, including all patients with a suspicion of HFB on routine sonography. We analysed the antenatal and neonatal results, distinguishing four situations: isolated HFB, HFB + other digestive anomalies, HFB + vascular pathology, HFB + other associated anomalies.Results. For 149 patients, HBF was confirmed. Sixty-nine were isolated HFB, 24 associated with other digestive anomalies, 16 with vascular pathology and 40 with other anomalies. Pregnancy outcomes were different with 92.8, 41.7, 0 and 45.0% of healthy newborns. In the case of isolated HBF, we noted 2.9% cystic fibrosis and 2.9% congenital infection.Conclusion. Isolated HBF seems to have a better prognosis than associated forms. However, prenatal investigations to eliminate cystic fibrosis or congenital infection should be offered and may be initially non-invasive, if a larger serie confirmed the absence of dyschromosomy in this population. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.