Maternal serum human chorionic gonadotrophin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A in twin pregnancies in the first trimester.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the levels of free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) in twin pregnancies in the first trimester.


METHODS
Serum samples were obtained from 67 pregnant women with twin pregnancies and maternal serum free beta-hCG and PAPP-A concentrations were compared with those of 4279 singleton controls between the 8th and 13th weeks of gestation.


RESULTS
The geometric means of chromosomally normal twin pregnancies were 1.85 MoM for free beta-hCG and 2.36 MoM for PAPP-A. There were no cases affected by Down syndrome in either group.


CONCLUSIONS
Twin pregnancies secrete more PAPP-A than expected on the basis of singleton controls whereas free beta-hCG production is not increased. The results of the present study can be used to establish normal reference values when introducing first trimester Down syndrome screening in prenatal care.
Niemimaa
Marko
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
Suonpää
Mikko
M
Heinonen
Seppo
S
Seppälä
Maija
M
Bloigu
Risto
R
Ryynänen
Markku
M
D000328:Adult; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple / Q000097:blood*; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values; D014427:Twins
D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A