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Maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A in pregnancies with fetal homozygous α ‐thalassemia‐1 disease
Author(s) -
Tongprasert Fuanglada,
Wanapirak Chanane,
Tongsong Theera
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
prenatal diagnosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.956
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1097-0223
pISSN - 0197-3851
DOI - 10.1002/pd.3882
Subject(s) - fetus , thalassemia , medicine , pregnancy associated plasma protein a , pregnancy , human chorionic gonadotropin , endocrinology , gonadotropin , obstetrics , hormone , biology , first trimester , genetics
Objective To compare the levels of maternal serum free β‐hCG and PAPP‐A between pregnancies with fetal homozygous α‐thalassemia‐1 disease and unaffected pregnancies. Materials and Methods One hundred and forty eight pregnancies at risk for fetal homozygous α‐thalassemia‐1 disease scheduled for cordocentesis at 18 to 22 weeks were recruited into the study. Maternal serum free β‐hCG and PAPP‐A concentrations were measured before cordocentesis, and the final fetal diagnosis of homozygous α‐thalassemia‐1 disease was based on fetal Hb typing using high‐performance liquid chromatography. Results Maternal serum concentration of free β‐hCG was significantly higher in women with fetal homozygous α‐thalassemia‐1 disease than those with unaffected fetuses (P = 0.018), whereas the concentrations of PAPP‐A was not significantly different (P = 0.184). The median MoM of free β‐hCG in the affected group was 1.38 MoM and in the unaffected group was 0.88 MoM (P = 0.020). Conclusion At midpregnancy, maternal serum free β‐hCG levels are significantly higher in pregnancies with fetal homozygous α‐thalassemia‐1 disease, signifying that the disease could be a confounder for interpretation free β‐hCG level in Down syndrome screening program. Nevertheless PAPP‐A level seems to be similar in both groups. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.