Decreased first trimester PAPP-A is a predictor of adverse pregnancy outcome.
OBJECTIVE
Low levels of maternal serum pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) have been linked to chromosome anomalies such as trisomy 21, 13 and 18, triploidy and sex chromosome aneuploidy. Low levels of PAPP-A have also been implicated in spontaneous miscarriage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether low levels of first trimester PAPP-A are predictive of other adverse pregnancy outcomes.


METHODS
The study included patients with singleton pregnancies who underwent combined first trimester screening using nuchal translucency (NT) and maternal serum free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (free beta-hCG) and PAPP-A at 10-13 weeks' gestation. Patients with chromosome aberrations or fetal anomalies were excluded. Serum marker levels were expressed as gestational age-specific multiples of the median (MoMs). The incidences of various adverse pregnancy outcomes (spontaneous preterm labor, fetal growth restriction (FGR), proteinuric and non-proteinuric pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), intrauterine fetal demise, oligohydramnios, spontaneous miscarriage and placental abruption) were evaluated, according to maternal PAPP-A MoM levels.


RESULTS
Of the 1622 patients in the study, pregnancy complications were observed in 184 (11.3%). Patients with PAPP-A < or =0.25 MoM had significantly higher rates of FGR (RR = 3.12), proteinuric PIH (RR = 6.09), spontaneous miscarriage (RR = 8.76). No statistically significant differences were noted for other adverse outcomes evaluated Women with PAPP-A < or =0.50 MoM also had significantly higher rates of FGR (RR = 3.30) and spontaneous miscarriage (RR = 3.78).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that decreased levels of first trimester maternal serum PAPP-A are predictive not only of chromosome anomalies but also of adverse pregnancy outcome.
Yaron
Yuval
Y
Prenatal Diagnosis Unit, Genetic Institute, Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. yyaron@tasmc.health.gov.il
Heifetz
Sigal
S
Ochshorn
Yifat
Y
Lehavi
Ofer
O
Orr-Urtreger
Avi
A
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood*; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000032:analysis*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*
D015415:Biomarkers; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A