Background: To effectively circumvent foetal structural abnormalities and serious newborn sequelae, antenatal ultrasound evaluation can support making an early diagnosis for potential prenatal management or the termination of pregnancy.
Objective: This study systematically evaluated a meta-analysis of different pregnancy outcomes in the diagnosis of isolated foetal renal parenchymal echogenicity (IHEK) by prenatal ultrasonography.
Methods: Two researchers conducted a literature search following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The following databases were included in the search: China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Medical Network, China Academic Journals Full-text Database, PubMed, Web Of Science and Springer Link; additional library websites were also included, and the search reviewed different pregnancies among patients with IHEK. The outcome indicators were the live birth rate, the incidence of polycystic renal dysplasia and the incidence of pregnancy termination/neonatal death. The meta-analysis was performed using the Stata/SE 12.0 software.
Results: A total of 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis (total sample content, 1,115 cases). The combined effect size of prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of pregnancy termination/neonatal mortality in patients with IHEK was 0.289 (confidence interval (CI) 95%; range, 0.102-0.397). The combined effect size of the live birth rate of pregnancy outcomes was 0.742 (CI 95%; range, 0.634-0.850. The combined effect size of the polycystic kidney dysplasia rate was 0.066 (CI 95%; range, 0.030-0.102). The heterogeneity of all three results was > 50%; accordingly, a random-effects model was used.
Conclusion: The indications for eugenic labour should not be included in a prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of patients with IHEK. In the results of this meta-analysis, the live birth and polycystic dysplasia rates were optimistic in terms of pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, under the condition of excluding other unfavourable factors, it is necessary to A thorough technical inspection is required to make an accurate judgment.
Keywords: IHEK; eugenic labour; pregnancy outcomes.