title: Second trimester total human chorionic gonadotropin, alpha-fetoprotein and unconjugated estriol in predicting pregnancy complications other than fetal aneuploidy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the value of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), total human chorionic gonadotropin (ThCG) and unconjugated estriol in predicting certain complications of pregnancy other than fetal aneuploidy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 2384 women that underwent biochemical screening between 15 and 22 weeks of gestation, pregnancy outcome was evaluated in 677 women under 35 years of age according to serum marker levels by using cut-off points discriminative for Down syndrome or neural tube defect (NTD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  High alpha-fetoprotein levels (MoM>/=2.0) were found to be significantly more frequent (P<0.05) in cases of fetal growth restriction (odds ratio=2.7), miscarriage (odds ratio=4.4) and intrauterine fetal death (odds ratio=5.8). High chorionic gonadotropin levels (MoM>/=2.02) were associated with intrauterine growth restriction (odds ratio=2.1; P<0.05), miscarriage (odds ratio=4; P<0.01), preterm birth (odds ratio=2.5; P<0.05), and intrauterine fetal death (odds ratio=4.2; P<0.01). Among pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction and threatening preterm delivery, low unconjugated estriol levels (MoM</=0.74) were significantly more frequent (odds ratio=2.2; P<0.05 and odds ratio=2.6; P<0.01, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All three markers predictive for fetal trisomy 21 shown to be associated with various pregnancy complications in euploid pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zagreb University School of Medicine, Petrova 13, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Koraljka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Duric
authors.forename: Snjezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skrablin
authors.forename: Josko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lesin
authors.forename: Drzislav
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kalafatic
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kuvacic
authors.forename: Ernest
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Suchanek
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D000782:Aneuploidy; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D004964:Estriol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000175:diagnosis; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000175:diagnosis; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D004964:Estriol