[Screening by maternal serum markers for Down's syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the optimal method of screening for Down's syndrome (DS) with maternal serum mankers.


METHODS
Screening by maternal serum markers for Down's syndrome was offered to all 2886 pregnant women in Peking Union Medical Hospital during 1996.11-2001.3. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (free beta-HCG) were used as markers during the first year of pregnancy. Alpha-fetoprotein, free human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) were used as mid pregnancy and first-trimester markers in next three years. Amniocentesis and (CVS) were done in those defined as risk cases.


RESULTS
The detection rate of Down's syndrome by maternal serum markers was 3.8% (11/2886). The proportion of false positive results in group of triple markers (alpha FP, free beta-HCG, PAPP-A) was 5%.


CONCLUSIONS
The PAPP-A was a good marker to detect Down's syndrome in early pregnancy and may be used to predict the outcome during mid trimester of pregnancy. The AFP and free beta-HCG can be useful markers to detect Down's syndrome and fetal abnormality. While prenatal diagnostics can be shifted to an early pregnant period.
Liu
Jun-tao
JT
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, PUMC Hospital, CAMS, PUMC, Beijing 100730, China.
Hao
Na
N
Sun
Nian-hu
NH
Wang
Feng-yun
FY
Xu
Yun-hua
YH
Gai
Ming-ying
MY
Bian
Xu-ming
XM
Yang
Jian-qiu
JQ
D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000032:analysis*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A