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Abnormal analyte preeclampsia: do the second-trimester maternal serum analytes help differentiate preeclampsia
A S Critchfield1, J K Paulus, R Farez
1Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Summary
Abnormal serum analytes in preeclampsia indicate higher risk for small-for-gestational age newborns and preterm delivery. These markers also correlate with maternal laboratory abnormalities, aiding in risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication associated with adverse outcomes for both mother and infant.
- Identifying reliable biomarkers for predicting preeclampsia complications is crucial for timely intervention.
- Serum screening analytes are routinely measured during pregnancy, offering a potential source of predictive information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum screen analytes and adverse pregnancy outcomes in preeclamptic patients.
- To determine if specific analytes can predict small-for-gestational age (SGA) newborns, maternal laboratory abnormalities, and preterm delivery.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 102 patients diagnosed with preeclampsia.
- Analysis of associations between serum screen analytes and newborn birth-weight percentile, gestational age at delivery, and maternal laboratory values.
- Statistical methods included correlation coefficients and local polynomial regression.
Main Results:
- Inhibin-A and maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein showed inverse correlations with newborn birth-weight percentile and gestational age at delivery.
- These analytes also positively correlated with maternal aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase levels.
- Second-trimester beta human chorionic gonadotropin and estriol correlated positively with maternal creatinine; 100% of patients with ≥2 abnormal analytes delivered preterm.
Conclusions:
- Abnormal serum screen analytes in preeclamptic patients are linked to a higher likelihood of delivering small-for-gestational age newborns.
- Elevated risk for preterm delivery (<37 weeks gestation) is associated with abnormal analyte profiles.
- Serum analytes can identify preeclamptic patients with concurrent maternal laboratory abnormalities, suggesting their utility in risk stratification.
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