title: Correlation of pregnancy outcome with quadruple screening test at second trimester.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abnormal levels of the markers AFP, hCG, and uE3 could be useful in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study was designed to determine the correlation between second trimester maternal serum markers and adverse pregnancy outcome (APO).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this historical cohort study, we randomly followed 231 obstetric patients with quadruple screening test in 14-18 weeks of gestation from March 2012 to March 2013 in a medical laboratory in Babol, Iran. We measured maternal serum levels of alphafetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), unconjugated estriol (uE3), and inhibin-A. The risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) were then compared between patients with negative and positive test results. We used Chi-square and Fisher-exact tests for qualitative variables and t-test for quantitative variables. Demographic differences between the two groups were minimized by applying logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The risk of having an APO such as pre-eclampsia (p=0.008), fetal growth restriction (p=0.028) and premature rupture of membrane (p=0.040) increased significantly in patients with abnormal markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormal results of quadruple screening test could be associated with APO in women with normal appearing fetus.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Fatemeh-Zahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. shahla_yazdani_1348@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Shahla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yazdani
authors.affiliation: Resident of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. dr.rahele@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rahele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rouholahnejad
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology Department, Fatemeh-Zahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. asnafi2001@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nesa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asnafi
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Pathology Department, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. sharbatdaran@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharbatdaran
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology Department, Member of Cellular & Molecular Biology Research Center, Babol University of Medical sciences, Babol Iran. z_b412003@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Marziihe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zakershob
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology Department, Member of Cellular & Molecular Biology Research Center, Babol University of Medical sciences, Babol Iran. z_b412003@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zinatossadat
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bouzari
keywords: Pregnancy trimester; Prenatal Screening; Quadruples