Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Impact of smoking on maternal serum markers and prenatal screening in the first and second trimesters

Jing Zhang1, Geralyn Lambert-Messerlian, Glenn E Palomaki

  • 1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Women and Infants Hospital and Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA.

Prenatal Diagnosis
|April 12, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Smoking significantly alters prenatal screening markers. Pregnant smokers show increased Down syndrome and trisomy 18 screen positive rates, particularly with combined and integrated tests.

Area of Science:

  • Prenatal screening
  • Maternal health
  • Genetic disorder risk assessment

Background:

  • Smoking during pregnancy is a known health risk.
  • Its impact on specific prenatal screening markers requires detailed examination.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for accurate risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how smoking affects first and second trimester screening markers.
  • To determine the impact of these smoking-induced changes on Down syndrome and trisomy 18 risk calculations.
  • To evaluate these effects across different screening test types: first trimester combined, second trimester quadruple, and integrated tests.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of screening records from 2006-2008.
  • Extraction of first and second trimester marker values (PAPP-A, hCG, nuchal translucency, AFP, uE3, inhibin A) as multiples of the median (MoM).
  • Correlation of marker levels with smoking status, demographic data, and calculated risk results for chromosomal abnormalities.

Main Results:

  • Smoking reduced median levels of first trimester PAPP-A and hCG, and second trimester uE3 and hCG.
  • Smoking increased levels of second trimester AFP and inhibin A.
  • Smokers exhibited higher Down syndrome screen positive rates with the second trimester quadruple test and increased trisomy 18 screen positive rates with first trimester combined or integrated tests.

Conclusions:

  • Smoking significantly alters key prenatal screening markers.
  • These alterations lead to increased screen positive rates for Down syndrome and trisomy 18.
  • The impact is particularly notable for trisomy 18 when using first trimester combined or integrated screening approaches.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Construction of Vapor Chambers Used to Expose Mice to Alcohol During the Equivalent of all Three Trimesters of Human Development15:27

Construction of Vapor Chambers Used to Expose Mice to Alcohol During the Equivalent of all Three Trimesters of Human Development

Published on: July 13, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV01:26

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV

Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics01:23

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics

Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla.  Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by anesthetizing...