Maternal serum analyte levels after first-trimester multifetal pregnancy reduction.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to assess the effect of multifetal pregnancy reduction on maternal serum levels of analytes used for screening low-risk women for fetal chromosome abnormalities and neural tube defects.


METHODS
Peripheral blood samples were obtained between 15.09 and 20.9 weeks' gestation from 10 consecutive women who had undergone first-trimester multifetal pregnancy reduction. The samples were assayed for levels of alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, and unconjugated estriol. Analyte concentrations were interpreted within our maternal serum screening program.


RESULTS
Levels of alpha-fetoprotein were significantly elevated in all samples. In each pregnancy levels of human chorionic gonadotropin and unconjugated estriol were consistent with the number of continuing gestations.


CONCLUSIONS
First-trimester multifetal reduction does not alter second-trimester levels of human chorionic gonadotropin and unconjugated estriol. Further study is needed to determine whether these analytes could be used to screen pregnancies for fetal chromosome abnormalities after first-trimester multifetal reduction.
Shulman
L P
LP
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38103-2896, USA.
Phillips
O P
OP
Cervetti
T A
TA
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000517:prevention & control; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D004964:Estriol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D011247:Pregnancy; D018607:Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D004964:Estriol