title: Maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in pregnancies with fetal homozygous α-thalassemia-1 disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the levels of maternal serum free β-hCG and PAPP-A between pregnancies with fetal homozygous α-thalassemia-1 disease and unaffected pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty eight pregnancies at risk for fetal homozygous α-thalassemia-1 disease scheduled for cordocentesis at 18 to 22 weeks were recruited into the study. Maternal serum free β-hCG and PAPP-A concentrations were measured before cordocentesis, and the final fetal diagnosis of homozygous α-thalassemia-1 disease was based on fetal Hb typing using high-performance liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal serum concentration of free β-hCG was significantly higher in women with fetal homozygous α-thalassemia-1 disease than those with unaffected fetuses (P = 0.018), whereas the concentrations of PAPP-A was not significantly different (P = 0.184). The median MoM of free β-hCG in the affected group was 1.38 MoM and in the unaffected group was 0.88 MoM (P = 0.020).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At midpregnancy, maternal serum free β-hCG levels are significantly higher in pregnancies with fetal homozygous α-thalassemia-1 disease, signifying that the disease could be a confounder for interpretation free β-hCG level in Down syndrome screening program. Nevertheless PAPP-A level seems to be similar in both groups.
authors.forename: Fuanglada
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tongprasert
authors.forename: Chanane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wanapirak
authors.forename: Theera
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tongsong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D017218:Cordocentesis; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000032:analysis*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A