Recurrence Rate for Isolated Elevated Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein Levels and Pregnancy Outcomes

Objective: To examine the rate of recurrence for elevated isolated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) and its associated adverse outcomes during a subsequent pregnancy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study of pregnant multiparous women who had elevated MSAFP levels during an initial and a subsequent pregnancy between 1994 and 2020. Results: Twenty-seven out of 344 (7.8%) women with elevated MSAFP had recurrent elevated MSAFP in a subsequent pregnancy. Four women were excluded due to missing data. Of the 23 women included, 5 (22%) had fetal growth restriction (FGR), 2 (9%) had pre-eclampsia, 9 (35%) had preterm births, and 2 (9%) had fetal death/miscarriage in their subsequent pregnancy. Looking at individual outcomes, 60% of women had recurrence of preterm labor, 33% had recurrence of fetal death, and 25% had recurrence of FGR. Conclusion: Women with elevated MSAFP levels during an initial pregnancy should be informed during preconception counseling about their risk of recurring elevated MSAFP and its associated adverse outcomes risks.

Is the ratio of maternal serum to amniotic fluid AFP superior to serum levels as a predictor of pregnancy complications?

PURPOSE

The use of maternal serum alpha fetoprotein (MSAFP) levels as a predictor of pregnancy complications (PC) is well established. We hypothesized that the ratio between the MSAFP/AFAFP levels (RATIO) will more accurately predict PC than MSAFP levels alone.

METHODS

Women who had a MSAFP test followed by amniocentesis were divided into two groups: those who had PC comprised the study group and those who had an uneventful pregnancy served as the control group. Data regarding pregnancy and delivery course were collected. The RATIO between the study and the control groups was compared.

RESULTS

166 women were included in the study, of which 24 had PC. A significant correlation was found between the RATIO and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and week of delivery. Six pregnancies had elevated MSAFP levels; two with RATIO below 2 had uneventful pregnancies. Among the other four pregnancies with RATIO above two, one had IUGR and the other, placental abruption.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that the RATIO might serve as a predictor of IUGR and week of delivery. Although the number of patients in the current study was relatively small, the novelty of the proposed simple marker implies that a larger scale study is warranted. Such studies may confirm this finding and a possible advantage of using this RATIO instead of or in addition to MSAFP values for better prediction of pregnancies at risk for PC.

Biochemical screening for aneuploidy in patients with donor oocyte pregnancies compared with autologous pregnancies

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to determine if the rate of abnormal biochemical markers is different in pregnancies conceived by donor oocyte versus those conceived by autologous oocytes.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent risk assessment for aneuploidy. Pregnancies conceived by egg donation were matched with control groups who conceived using their own eggs. The primary outcomes were incidence of low PAPP-A or free bHCG in the first trimester or elevated MSAFP, free bHCG or Inhibin A, or low uE3 in the second trimester.

RESULTS

260 singleton gestations were identified who conceived via oocyte donor. There was a significantly higher rate of unexplained elevated MSAFP in pregnancies conceived by egg donation (8% versus 2%, p = 0.028) compared to a control group matched by maternal age. There was also a significantly higher rate of unexplained elevated MSAFP in pregnancies conceived by egg donation (7% versus 2%, p = 0.01) compared to a control group matched by age of the egg donor.

CONCLUSION

Pregnancies conceived by egg donation are more likely to have an unexplained elevation in MSAFP compared to pregnancies not conceived by egg donation regardless of age. Egg donation itself is not associated with other biochemical abnormalities.

Isolated and ventriculomegaly-associated cases of spina bifida in genetic counseling: focus on fetal pathology

Cases of spina bifida alone and in association with ventriculomegaly represent important but different malformations according to clinical characteristics. In our study, we analyzed the data on pregancies terminated because of isolated cases (n=307) and ventriculomegaly-associated cases (n=372) of spina bifida. In spina bifida cases in association with hydrocephalus, positive obstetric history was found approximately 1.5 times more frequently than in the isolated ones. The incidence of positive genetic history was nearly two-fold in the latter cases. In isolated cases of spina bifida, associated malformations were more common than in cases of spina bifida and ventriculomegaly together. The most frequent associated malformations were those of the urogenital system (in cases of spina bifida: 11.1%; in cases of SB+V: 9.14%). The risk of recurrence of SB+V is significantly higher than that of isolated SB (8.9% vs. 2.1%). It can be concluded that positive genetic history is more common in cases of isolated spina bifida. Malformations out of the nervous system are more commonly observed in cases of isolated spina bifida. During the prenatal diagnostics of spina bifida, sonography must focus on malformations of the urogenital system.