title: Diagnostic value of CA 19-9 in pregnancies complicated by spinal neural tube defects: a preliminary study.
abstract: Various physiological and pathological conditions can induce significant variations in plasma concentrations of tumor markers, such as CA 19-9, which is present in the serum and amniotic fluid of pregnant women. Herein, we aimed to determine the clinical importance of maternal serum CA 19-9 levels in the diagnosis of neural tube defects (NTDs).
  
  
  
  A total of 100 women were included in this controlled cross-sectional study. Thirty-three patients whose pregnancies were complicated by isolated meningocele or meningomyelocele constituted the study group, whereas 33 normal, healthy pregnant women constituted the control group, and 34 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched non-pregnant women were chosen for the validation group.
  
  
  
  The mean maternal serum CA 19-9 levels were 17.2 ± 17.0 IU/mL, 7.1 ± 5.9 IU/mL, and 4.7 ± 3.6 IU/mL in the study, control, and validation groups, respectively (p < 0.001). ROC analyses showed that elevated CA 19-9 values may predict NTDs (p < 0.001). The cut-off value for CA 19-9 was found to be 9.6 IU/mL at 70% (51%-84%, 95% CI) sensitivity and 84% (74%-92%, 95% CI) specificity.
  
  
  
  CA 19-9 may be a promising noninvasive marker for NTDs. Further studies are needed to reveal the clinical applicability and diagnostic potential of maternal serum CA 19-9 levels in the identification of NTDs.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Timur
authors.forename: Aytekin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tokmak
authors.forename: Aykan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yucel
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ali Inal
authors.forename: Umran
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Buyukkagnici
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sirvan
authors.forename: Nuri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Danisman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen
keywords: inflammation; meningomyelocele; prenatal screening; spina bifida; tumor markers