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Related Experiment Videos

Maternal serum markers in second-trimester oligohydramnios

F J Los1, A M Hagenaars, T E Cohen-Overbeek

  • 1Department of Clinical Genetics, University Hospital Dijkzigt, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Prenatal Diagnosis
|July 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

Maternal serum screening for early second-trimester oligohydramnios shows altered levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), and unconjugated oestriol (uE3), increasing false positives for fetal abnormalities.

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Area of Science:

  • Maternal-fetal medicine
  • Biochemistry
  • Prenatal diagnostics

Background:

  • Oligohydramnios, a condition of low amniotic fluid, can impact fetal development and pregnancy outcomes.
  • Maternal serum screening (MSS) using alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), and unconjugated oestriol (uE3) is standard for detecting fetal anomalies.
  • The specific impact of early second-trimester oligohydramnios on MSS marker profiles requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the maternal serum marker profiles (AFP, hCG, uE3) in early second-trimester oligohydramnios.
  • To compare these profiles with a reference population of uncomplicated singleton pregnancies.
  • To assess the effect of oligohydramnios on the screen-positive rates for fetal Down's syndrome and neural tube defects.

Main Methods:

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  • Retrospective analysis of maternal serum samples from 35 pregnancies with early second-trimester oligohydramnios.
  • Comparison with a reference group of 1699 singleton pregnancies without oligohydramnios.
  • Analysis of AFP, hCG, and uE3 levels, comparing them against population-specific centiles.

Main Results:

  • Significantly different maternal serum marker levels were observed in oligohydramnios cases compared to the reference population.
  • Elevated AFP (above 95th centile) was found in 80% of oligohydramnios cases with normal fetuses, versus 20% with malformed fetuses.
  • Elevated hCG (26%) and decreased uE3 (17%) were noted irrespective of fetal condition, leading to a 57% screen-positive rate for fetal abnormalities.

Conclusions:

  • Early second-trimester oligohydramnios is associated with distinct maternal serum marker profiles.
  • These altered profiles significantly increase the screen-positive rate for fetal Down's syndrome and neural tube defects.
  • Further research is needed to refine screening protocols for pregnancies complicated by oligohydramnios.