title: The detection of non-immune hydrops through second-trimester maternal serum screening.
abstract: The objective was to investigate whether non-immune hydrops in euploid pregnancies is associated with alterations in the second-trimester levels of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), unconjugated oestriol (uE3), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Ten singleton cases of fetal non-immune hydrops were identified. The aetiology and timing of onset of the earliest signs of non-immune hydrops, including polyhydramnios, in relation to maternal serum screening for Down syndrome were assessed. There was no clear relationship between the aetiology of non-immune hydrops and the analyte levels, as aetiologies varied widely. AFP levels were elevated overall (median = 1.78 MOM) and uE3 levels were unremarkable (median = 0.82 MOM). hCG levels were elevated (median = 3.53 MOM) when non-immune hydrops was present at the time of screening, but were unremarkable (median = 0.82 MOM) when the non-immune hydrops presented later. It is concluded that second-trimester non-immune hydrops is associated with elevated hCG levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Saller
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Canick
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Oyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D004964:Estriol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006831:Polyhydramnios / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D004964:Estriol