title: The contribution of maternal serum markers in the early prenatal diagnosis of molar pregnancies.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of maternal serum markers in the early prenatal diagnosis of molar pregnancies. The ultrasound features, cytogenetic and histopathological findings of 10 cases of molar pregnancy diagnosed at 11-13 weeks of gestation were compared retrospectively with the maternal serum concentrations of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and pregnancy-specific beta1-glycoprotein (SP1). Free beta-HCG and intact HCG concentrations were very high [> or = 2.5 multiples of the median (MoM)] in all cases. AFP concentrations were extremely low in all cases of singleton complete moles (< or = 0.5 MoM) and were high in one case of twin complete mole, in one case of triploid partial mole and two cases of euploid partial mole (> or = 2.5 MoM). Serum PAPP-A and SP1 were high in complete moles. The combined use of ultrasound features, maternal serum proteins and fetal cytogenetic findings should enable the early differential diagnosis in utero and perinatal management of those molar pregnancies presenting with an anatomically normal fetus.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College London (UCH), UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jauniaux
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Bersinger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gulbis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meuris
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D007621:Karyotyping; D011247:Pregnancy; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000032:analysis; D011268:Pregnancy-Specific beta 1-Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011268:Pregnancy-Specific beta 1-Glycoproteins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A