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Correlation between first trimester fetal bone length and maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A
Federico Prefumo1, Silvana Canini, Angela Crovo
1U.O. Ostetricia e Ginecologia, Istituto G. Gaslini, Università di Genova, Italy. fprefumo@sgul.ac.uk
Insights
Maternal serum levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) correlate with fetal long bone length in early pregnancy. This suggests PAPP-A may play a role in fetal bone development.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Developmental biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) is a protein produced by the embryo and placenta.
- Maternal serum PAPP-A levels are linked to fetal growth.
- PAPP-A is implicated in bone development regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between maternal serum PAPP-A levels and fetal long bone length in the first trimester.
- To explore PAPP-A's potential role in fetal bone development.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observational study involving 514 singleton pregnancies.
- Ultrasound measurements of fetal long bones (humerus, femur, tibia, ulna, foot) at 10-14 weeks gestation.
- Fluorimetric immunoassays to determine maternal serum PAPP-A levels.
Main Results:
- Significant positive correlations were found between PAPP-A levels and the length of the humerus, femur, and tibia.
- Associations with ulna and foot length did not reach statistical significance.
- The study included 501 uncomplicated pregnancies.
Conclusions:
- Maternal serum PAPP-A levels in early pregnancy are significantly associated with fetal long bone length.
- These findings support the hypothesis that PAPP-A is involved in regulating fetal bone development.
Background:
Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) is produced by the embryo and placenta during pregnancy, and its maternal serum concentrations are related to subsequent fetal growth. Evidence from animal models and in vitro experiments suggests that PAPP-A is particularly involved in the regulation of bone development. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between late first trimester fetal bone length and maternal serum levels of PAPP-A.
Methods:
In a cross-sectional observational study, ultrasound measurements of fetal long bones and fluorimetric immunoassays for maternal serum PAPP-A were performed in 514 singleton pregnancies at 10-14 weeks of gestation.
Results:
There were 501 uncomplicated pregnancies. There were significant correlations between PAPP-A values and length of humerus, femur and tibia [r values 0.12 (P = 0.01), 0.11 (P = 0.01) and 0.10 (P = 0.03), respectively]. The association with the length of ulna and foot did not reach statistical significance (r values 0.08 and -0.03, respectively).
Conclusions:
Maternal serum PAPP-A levels at 10-14 weeks of gestation are significantly associated with the length of fetal long bones such as humerus, femur and tibia. This provides further evidence that PAPP-A may be involved in the regulation of bone development.
