title: Second-trimester maternal pregnancy-associated plasma protein a and inhibin a levels in fetal trisomies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether fetal trisomy is associated with altered levels of second-trimester maternal pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and inhibin A.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maternal serum PAPP-A and inhibin A concentrations were measured at 15-17 weeks of gestation in 14 singleton pregnancies with fetal trisomy and in 56 matched pregnant controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PAPP-A levels in the trisomy group were significantly lower than in controls. The inhibin A level with fetal trisomy 21 was slightly higher than the control group, but levels were not different between trisomies 18 and 13 and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fetal trisomies 21, 18, and 13 are associated with a reduction in second-trimester maternal PAPP-A levels; trisomies 18 and 13 are not associated with increased inhibin A levels, unlike trisomy 21.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.forename: Mana Obata
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Yasuoka
authors.forename: Suzuka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okuno
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujiki
authors.forename: Sohda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sohda
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002882:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000032:analysis*; D014314:Trisomy
chemical_list: C422362:inhibin A; D007265:Inhibins; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A