title: Prediction of pre-eclampsia with maternal mid-trimester total renin, inhibin A, AFP and free beta-hCG levels.
abstract: We wanted to study if maternal serum mid-trimester total renin, inhibin A, AFP or free beta-hCG levels predict the development of pre-eclampsia. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorion gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) were evaluated in the screening programme for Down syndrome in 4356 patients prospectively. Data on pregnancy outcome were available in 1242 women. Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) developed in 69 women, 282 women with uneventful pregnancy outcome were selected for controls. Serum total renin and inhibin A levels were measured retrospectively in the trisomy screening samples of 69 and 30 patients who later developed PIH, and in 282 and 7 patients, respectively, who had an uneventful pregnancy outcome. No significant differences were found in the levels of maternal mid-trimester serum total renin, inhibin A or free beta-hCG levels between PIH and healthy women. The multiples of the median (MoM) of AFP values were significantly higher in the subgroup of patients who later developed severe pre-eclampsia than in patients with mild pre-eclampsia or gestational hypertension and healthy pregnant women. Maternal mid-trimester serum levels of total renin, inhibin A and free beta-hCG are not predictive for development of PIH. High mid-trimester serum AFP values may help in the prediction of severe pre-eclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Räty
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koskinen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alanen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Irjala
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Matinlauri
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ekblad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D007265:Inhibins; D012083:Renin