KANET IN BRAZIL: FIRST EXPERIENCE

Many Investigators led to the conclusion that fetal behavioral patterns directly reflect developmental and maturational processes of fetal nervous system (CNS), and may make possible to distinguish between normal and abnormal... [ view full abstract ]

Many Investigators led to the conclusion that fetal behavioral patterns directly reflect developmental and maturational processes of fetal nervous system (CNS), and may make possible to distinguish between normal and abnormal brain development as well as prenatal diagnosis of neurological impairment. The arrival of three and four-dimensional ultrasound (3D/4D US) made possible to study fetal behavioral patterns. Kurjak´s Antenatal Neurodevelpmental Test (KANET) is the first prenatal based on 3D/4D ultrasound examination of the fetus, that could be used for the evaluation and prediction of fetal neurological status.
Objective: The goal of this pilot test is to compare Kurjak’s antenatal neurological test (KANET) results between high and low-risk pregnancies and see the feasibility of using this test on a larger scale in Brazil.
Methods: We applied KANET test in high risk (n=17) and low risk (n=34) pregnancies and compared the results.
Results: There was a significant difference between groups of high-risk and low-risk pregnancies for all parameters in KANET score 2. For KANET score 0, 5 out of 8 parameters where significant different: isolated head anteflexion, cranial sutures and head circumference, isolated hand movement or hand to face movements, isolated leg movement and fingers movements. All abnormal KANET result came from high-risk pregnancies (17,6%). No low-risk pregnancies presented KANET score 0. Efficacy and effectiveness were not evaluated due to the imprecision inherent in data from small samples.
Conclusion: This successful preliminary study of KANET in Brazil showed important differences in fetal behavior between the low and high-risk pregnancies, and can be used as information of feasibility and identify modifications needed in the design of a larger testing study.