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Maternal weight as an additional first trimester spina bifida screening marker
Svetlana Arbuzova1, Margaryta Nikolenko1, Howard Cuckle2
1Center of Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis, Mariupol, Ukraine.
Summary
First trimester maternal weight can improve spina bifida screening. Including maternal weight in screening protocols increases detection rates for spina bifida, aiding early intervention.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Prenatal Diagnosis
- Public Health
Background:
- Spina bifida is a major birth defect.
- Current screening methods have limitations.
- Maternal characteristics may influence risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate first-trimester maternal weight as a screening marker for spina bifida.
- To assess the impact of incorporating maternal weight into existing screening protocols.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study comparing spina bifida pregnancies with unaffected pregnancies.
- Analysis of maternal weight, body mass index (BMI), and obesity rates.
- Logistic regression and Gaussian modeling to assess discriminatory power and predict detection rates.
Main Results:
- Maternal weight and BMI were significantly higher in spina bifida cases.
- Obesity rates were higher in cases (15%) compared to controls (6.9%).
- Incorporating maternal weight and BMI into screening models predicted increased detection rates.
Conclusions:
- Maternal weight is a valuable marker for first-trimester spina bifida screening.
- Integrating maternal weight into screening protocols can enhance spina bifida detection.
- This approach may lead to earlier diagnosis and intervention for spina bifida.
