Extreme second-trimester serum analyte values in down syndrome pregnancies with hydrops fetalis.
OBJECTIVE
To compare second-trimester maternal serum analyte values in Down syndrome pregnancies with, and without, hydrops fetalis.


METHODS
Seven hydropic and 85 non-hydropic Down syndrome pregnancies were identified among women with positive second-trimester maternal serum screening results. Values for maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), unconjugated estriol and inhibin-A, and risks for Down syndrome were compared using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney statistical test.


RESULTS
Hydropic Down syndrome pregnancies had significantly lower MSAFP and estriol concentrations, while hCG levels were higher. For subgroups of five hydropic and 42 non-hydropic cases, no statistically significant difference in the inhibin-A levels could be demonstrated.


CONCLUSIONS
Second-trimester Down syndrome screening risks are significantly higher in affected pregnancies that are complicated by fetal hydrops.
Benn
P A
PA
Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030-6140, USA.
Egan
J F X
JF
Ingardia
C J
CJ
D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D004964:Estriol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood; D008403:Mass Screening; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; C422362:inhibin A; D007265:Inhibins; D004964:Estriol