Serum müllerian-inhibiting substance in Down's syndrome pregnancies.
BACKGROUND
To examine whether maternal serum levels of müllerian-inhibiting substance (MIS) differ in Down's syndrome and unaffected pregnancies.


METHODS
Case-control study was conducted using stored serum from an antenatal screening programme. Sera from 25 Down's syndrome pregnancies were retrieved from -20 degrees C storage together with 125 unaffected controls individually matched for maternal age, weeks of gestation and duration of storage. Results were expressed in multiples of the gestation-specific median value (MoM) in controls.


RESULTS
The median value in Down's syndrome pregnancies was 0.83 MoM (P = 0.77, two-tail Wilcoxon rank sum test). Among unaffected pregnancies, there was a statistically significant correlation between MIS and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (P < 0.05). MIS levels were elevated in pregnancies where assisted reproduction techniques had been used.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no evidence for a substantial reduction in maternal serum MIS levels in Down's syndrome pregnancies. This study provides useful information regarding serum MIS levels in pregnancy.
Seifer
David B
DB
Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, NY, USA.
MacLaughlin
David T
DT
Cuckle
Howard S
HS
D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D013735:Testicular Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
D006023:Glycoproteins; D013735:Testicular Hormones; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone