First and second trimester markers of fetal aneuploidy in pregnant women with HIV infection.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate if levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), free β-hCG and nuchal translucency (NT) used in first trimester aneuploidy screening and α-fetoprotein (AFP), unconjugated oestriol (UE3) and free β-hCG in the second trimester are altered in pregnancies with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.


METHODS
Median MoM values of biochemical markers and δ-NT in 92 women with HIV infection in the first trimester were compared with those from 912 HIV-seronegative controls. In the second trimester, biochemical marker levels were compared in 52 women with HIV infection and 378 HIV-seronegative controls.


RESULTS
First trimester free β-hCG median MoM levels in HIV-infected pregnancies were not different to controls (0.978 vs. 0.981, p = 1.000), as were PAPP-A levels (1.190 vs. 1.102, p = 0.099) and δ-NT (0.1374 vs. 0.0445, p = 0.0631). Second trimester levels of free β-hCG were not significantly different (1.0575 vs. 0.9619, p = 0.1827), as was AFP (0.9734 vs. 0.9350, p = 0.6576), although UE3 was significantly lower (0.970 vs. 1.110, p = 0.0005).


CONCLUSIONS
In the first trimester, marker levels are not affected by the presence of HIV infection, and risks for aneuploidy are likely to be accurate in this group. Further studies are required to evaluate if UE3 levels continue to be low in HIV-infected women since this may have an impact on screening in the second trimester.
Spencer
Kevin
K
Prenatal Screening Unit, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, King George Hospital, Barley Lane, Goodmayes, UK. KevinSpencer1@aol.com
D000328:Adult; D000782:Aneuploidy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood; D004964:Estriol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000378:metabolism; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D055815:Young Adult; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A; D004964:Estriol