title: Fetuin A concentration in the second trimester amniotic fluid of fetuses with trisomy 21 appears to be lower: phenotypic considerations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated whether the concentration of the glycoprotein fetuin A is altered in the second trimester amniotic fluid of trisomy 21 pregnancies compared with euploid pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  25 pregnancies with an extra chromosome 21 were matched for maternal and gestational age with 25 pregnancies with normal karyotype. Levels of fetuin A in amniotic fluid were measured by a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median concentration of fetuin A in amniotic fluid of trisomy 21 pregnancies (5.3 ng/ml) was statistically significantly lower (P value = 0.008) compared with that in euploid pregnancies (6.8 ng/mL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower levels of fetuin A in trisomy 21 may indicate an association with altered metabolic pathways in this early stage that could potentially be associated with features of the syndrome, such as growth restriction or impaired osteogenesis.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens Medical School, Aretaieion Hospital, 124B Vas. Sofias Avenue, 115 26 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iliodromiti
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vrachnis
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Samoli
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Iliodromiti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pangalos
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Drakoulis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Creatsas
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Botsis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D002891:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 / Q000235:genetics; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000378:metabolism*; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein