OBJECTIVE: It was the aim of this study to investigate the pregnancy characteristics that influence the measured concentrations of maternal serum-free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) at 9(+0)-13(+6) weeks' gestation. METHODS: In singleton pregnancies attending for routine care, serum-free β-hCG and PAPP-A were measured at 9(+0)-13(+6) weeks' gestation and fetal nuchal translucency was measured at 11(+0)-13(+6) weeks. The population included 27,908 chromosomally normal and 104 trisomy 21 pregnancies. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the pregnancy characteristics that have a significant effect on the measured concentrations of free β-hCG and PAPP-A. We also examined the impact of incorporating temporal effects on performance of screening for trisomy 21. RESULTS: Serum-free β-hCG and PAPP-A concentrations were significantly affected by gestational age, maternal weight, racial origin, parity, preexisting diabetes mellitus type 2, smoking and conception by in vitro fertilization. There was a significant gestational age-dependent effect of Afro-Caribbean race on PAPP-A levels (p = 0.0005), with a weekly increase of 4.9% (95% CI 2.1-7.8). CONCLUSIONS: Serum-free β-hCG and PAPP-A concentrations at 9(+0)-13(+6) weeks' gestation are affected by several pregnancy characteristics and the effect of Afro-Caribbean race on PAPP-A increases with gestational age.
OBJECTIVE: It was the aim of this study to investigate the pregnancy characteristics that influence the measured concentrations of maternal serum-free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) at 9(+0)-13(+6) weeks' gestation. METHODS: In singleton pregnancies attending for routine care, serum-free β-hCG and PAPP-A were measured at 9(+0)-13(+6) weeks' gestation and fetal nuchal translucency was measured at 11(+0)-13(+6) weeks. The population included 27,908 chromosomally normal and 104 trisomy 21 pregnancies. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the pregnancy characteristics that have a significant effect on the measured concentrations of free β-hCG and PAPP-A. We also examined the impact of incorporating temporal effects on performance of screening for trisomy 21. RESULTS: Serum-free β-hCG and PAPP-A concentrations were significantly affected by gestational age, maternal weight, racial origin, parity, preexisting diabetes mellitus type 2, smoking and conception by in vitro fertilization. There was a significant gestational age-dependent effect of Afro-Caribbean race on PAPP-A levels (p = 0.0005), with a weekly increase of 4.9% (95% CI 2.1-7.8). CONCLUSIONS: Serum-free β-hCG and PAPP-A concentrations at 9(+0)-13(+6) weeks' gestation are affected by several pregnancy characteristics and the effect of Afro-Caribbean race on PAPP-A increases with gestational age.
Authors: Tim I M Korevaar; Eric A P Steegers; Yolanda B de Rijke; Sarah Schalekamp-Timmermans; W Edward Visser; Albert Hofman; Vincent W V Jaddoe; Henning Tiemeier; Theo J Visser; Marco Medici; Robin P Peeters Journal: Eur J Epidemiol Date: 2015-05-12 Impact factor: 8.082
Authors: Joyce L Browne; Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch; Maria P H Koster; Dhivya Ramamoorthy; Edward Antwi; Idder Belmouden; Arie Franx; Diederick E Grobbee; Peter C J I Schielen Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-08-17 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Edward Antwi; Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch; Joyce L Browne; Peter C Schielen; Kwadwo A Koram; Irene A Agyepong; Diederick E Grobbee Journal: Reprod Health Date: 2018-03-27 Impact factor: 3.223