title: Plasma amyloid beta protein 1-42 levels in fetuses with Down syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The presence of amyloid plaques in the brains of people with Down syndrome is correlated with the severity and the progression of the disease. The core of the plaques is an amyloid beta (A beta) protein. If a relationship between fetal levels and the presence and severity of the disease could be determined, consideration of an early intervention to reduce brain damage can be proposed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study plasma amyloid beta 1-42 levels in fetuses with Down syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fetal plasma amyloid beta 1-42 levels were measured using a commercially available immunoassay. The sample size was previously calculated to show a difference with an alpha level of 0.05 and a power (1-beta) of 90%.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen fetuses with Down syndrome and 17 controls (22.3+/-2.0 and 21.6+/-1.2 weeks of gestation, respectively).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fetal plasma amyloid beta 1-42 levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in plasma amyloid beta 1-42 levels between fetuses with Down syndrome and those with a normal karyotype (193.1+/-48.0 vs. 194.6+/-15.6 pg/mL, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This result does not support the hypothesis that A beta 1-42 may be related to the severity of brain damage in newborns with Down syndrome. The high levels of this peptide in fetuses without Down syndrome favour a physiological role of these peptides during brain development.
authors.affiliation: Fetal Medicine Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Michael's Hospital, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. joseluis.bartha@uca.es
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bartha
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Soothill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42)