title: Increased free fetal DNA levels in early pregnancy plasma of women who subsequently develop preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if maternal plasma ffDNA is increased early in pregnancies which subsequently develop preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood was obtained at 11-14 weeks and plasma stored. Among those who delivered a male infant and had a birth weight under the tenth centile and/or PE, we divided them into those who delivered before 35 weeks (9) and those who delivered after this gestation (15). A third group with uncomplicated pregnancies was used as controls (24). Real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was carried out to detect the multi-copy Y chromosome associated DSY14 gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences between the ffDNA levels in the group delivered after 35 weeks and the control group (2.23ge/mL-1.61ge/mL p = 0.39). However, the levels of ffDNA at 11-14 weeks were statistically, significantly higher in patients that delivered before 35 weeks (4.34ge/mL-1.61ge/mL p = 0.0018). A logistic regression analysis shows that for every unit (1ge/mL) in which ffDNA increases, the likelihood of having PE or a fetus growing under the tenth centile delivered before 35 weeks increases by 1.67 times (CI 1.13-2.47).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The concentration of ffDNA is significantly higher even during early pregnancy, in patients who subsequently develop PE and/or IUGR and are delivered before 35 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Fetal Medicine Unit, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile. s.illanes@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Illanes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pino
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Figueroa-Diesel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Arraztoa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Michea
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Soothill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000235:genetics; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004247:DNA